4. Restaurants

Smoke Shack

332 N Milwaukee St, Milwaukee, WI, 53202
  • (414) 431-1119
  • Store is closed

Smoke Shack Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.

Auntie Anne’s ( 2500 N Mayfair Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.

Auntie Anne’s ( 2500 N Mayfair Rd )

  • Andy M.

    So glad this place came to MKE. Great barbeque sandwiches and love the sweet potato fries. Nothing we have ever had has been short of delicious. Wife loves the pulled chicken sandwich, and I'm inclined to agree though pulled pork and brisket are also quite nice. Ambience and service have always been great, especially with outdoor seating for MKE summer!

    (5)

  • Lawrence P.

    This place reinforces my animal instincts to eat meat.

    (5)

  • Martin C.

    If you want horrible tasting, over-priced BBQ, this is your place. Let me start off by saying that I'm a huge fan of BBQ and have travelled to some great places to experience it (Kansas City, Texas, Tennessee). I was hoping there would finally be a good place here in Milwaukee, but sadly Smoke Shack was not it. I ordered the beef brisket sandwich with sweet potato fries. The bun was cheap grocery store quality, tiny and stale. The brisket was the texture and flavor of a pencil eraser, flat out the WORST I've ever had. The fries were room temperature at best with not much flavor. Even worse is that I paid more for this meager meal than any of the other BBQ joints I've visited. Oh and I don't mind community seating but their setup is ridiculous. I was literally bumping elbows with the person next to me the whole time, there was NO wiggle room. I could write a more lengthy review (my girlfriend ordered pulled pork and hated it), but I honestly don't want to waste anymore of my time on this place. The owners should check out Smoque in Chicago to learn what good BBQ is supposed to taste like!

    (1)

  • Phillip M.

    I love it. It's not the best BBQ I've ever had but is definitely one of the best in Milwaukee. There's never room for dessert when I'm done however it looks like it is to die for. The atmosphere is awesome, the bartenders are fun and the service is always top notch. Definitely a wise choice for lunch or dinner.

    (4)

  • Joey P.

    Meat quality is amazing, Mac and cheese is great. Portions are small, prices are high. Craft beer selection is limited, no home made lemonade either. My food arrived just barely warn and got cold soon before I finished it.

    (2)

  • Rick H.

    I have heard so many great things about this restaurant, maybe my expectations were too high. I loved the atmosphere and didn't mind having to wait awhile at 1:00 on a weekday, but when the food arrived I wasn't blown away. The brisket and the pulled pork were both too dry for my liking. You couldn't possibly enjoy it without using their sauces. On a positive note, the sauces were very tasty and saved the meal. Their sides were good - I had the mac and cheese, coleslaw (very unique) and sweet potato fries. I do still prefer my normal lunch BBQ at Miss Beverly's in Greendale. A little less expensive and much juicier meats.

    (3)

  • Kelsey S.

    Atmosphere: Cozy little spot in the Third Ward. Quite literally shack-like, in a charming way. Variety of tables - didn't sit with strangers, as other reviewers noted - had a booth for our party of four near the front door. Slight downer: it's really cold to sit next to the window. I kept my jacket on. Plus: Nice bar area for patrons to wait on a table. Service: The bartender who assisted us while we waited was awesome. Really nice guy with lots of recommendations on Mliwaukee, beer, and the menu. Our server was also friendly and prompt, even halting our order to run back to the kitchen to secure a slab of ribs for my appreciative and hungry husband (note: supposedly they only had a couple of racks left when we dined around 6 -- get there early if you want to guarantee a particular item, as they may sell out for the day). Food: Within our group, we ordered the brisket, the baby back ribs, the pulled chicken sandwich, and the pulled pork sandwich. All four dishes came out very quickly, yet were a bit on the cool side - one person actually sent the brisket back for more heating because it was completely lukewarm. Nevertheless, the food was all very good. The ribs and brisket got raving reviews. The sandwiches were good, too. Rather than saturated in BBQ sauce, the meat comes plain with the ability to choose your sauce from bottles on the table (bonus: you can actually pick up your sandwich because it's not drenched). The Kansas City was our collective favorite sauce. Beyond this, the sweet potato fries were good, the baked sweet potato was gigantic, and the cornbread was okay -- served cool, more cake-like than conventional cornbread. Overall, the food had good flavor but definitely could've been warmer. The service was great. The venue was cozy but a bit drafty in the winter wind. A good visit with room for improvement. I hope to visit again sometime to sample more of the menu.

    (3)

  • Chad C.

    What a cool new place! The staff was very friendly and helpful. It may be just me but I found this place a little pretentious regarding their hostess' mention of the restaurants "responsibility" and where I can read about that inside the menu. That's fine if your restaurant is proud of using only the healthiest local ingredients available, etc etc etc... but some of us don't care that much and will read about it in the menu or on the website if we do care. Not a huge deal... but it was just something that was a little off-putting to me when I was seated. She was completely friendly and I'm sure she was trained to mention it... I just didn't think it was necessary. I can read it in the menu if I want. Good service though, friendly and not pushy at all. Everything was done very fast and we got the check in a reasonable time period. The food was also very good - and so were all five (yes, FIVE) BBQ sauces available on the table. I had a pulled pork sandwich and some mac'n'cheese. I wouldn't call the mac'n'cheese "decadent" as it was called on the menu...it was pretty average. How does a place like this not have baked beans as a side item? That is surprising to me. Like I said, the food was great - but I think it's overpriced for the portion size. We got a Texas Popper as an appetizer between the three of us, and while it was absolutely delicious... it was one (large) stuffed pepper that we had to cut into thirds... and it was $6+. I paid $2+ for a (delicious) bite or two of that pepper. Kinda steep, man. My sandwich was very good too but it could've had more pulled pork on it for $9, in my opinion. They also were out of a lot of items by 5PM on a Sunday evening, including the Pecan Pie I was looking forward to... so I didn't do dessert. There were a couple of regular food items that were no longer available and then 2-3 desserts were out as well. It was disappointing but I guess I understand and they were very up-front about what was unavailable when we were given the menus. I feel like I'm complaining a lot in this review, but I really did enjoy the food as well as the experience...and I'm going to come back and try the ribs or a pulled pork plate instead of a sandwich. I'd like more meat for my buck. And I heard that bread makes you fat. *UPDATE* I still think it's overpriced... but dang do I like the food. Those fried green tomatoes are my favorite in the city. The KC egg rolls are also incredibly good. They added baked beans and I feel my review alone made that happen because I'm so important. 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Fahd A.

    Terrible place, the food was stone cold and when we asked for hot food they microwaved the brisket, are you kidding me?

    (1)

  • Brian M.

    Had the brisket....Not much food for the price. For $19 I left hungry, but the taste was excellent. Waitress screwed up our order, we ordered the sandwich but was given the more expensive entree and she added a side we didn't order.

    (3)

  • Lexie V.

    I was briefly in Milwaukee for an afternoon and I decided to have lunch before heading back to Chicago. I found this gem on Yelp, it totally deserves all of the good reviews. Everyone was SO nice. I think that might just be a Milwaukee thing, I'm not sure, but the service here was great. They even brought out a bowl of water for my dog who was out on the patio with us. The food was great. I got the chicken sandwich and it was sooo good. I thought it was better than my friend's pulled pork. I enjoyed testing all of the sauces they had to offer. The veggies, corn bread and slaw were all great too.

    (5)

  • Jasmine N.

    I had no idea this place existed, but I was walking back to my car because I wasn't up for the 45 minute wait for a table at cafe Benelux down the street and it caught my eye. Walked in and was seated right away which is rare for Sunday brunch hours in this city. Service was treat. Very polite and attentive server. I had the pulled pork Benedict which was probably the best non-traditional Benedict I've ever had. It was served lukewarm, but I didn't even mind. My date had the chicken and waffles. The chicken was a bit overcooked and the waffle was nothing extraordinary, but he was so full from the complementary sweet roll and my plate was enough to share. We're definitely excited to go back and try some more of the menu items. The bacon bourbon brownie is as divine as it sounds! Great blues music and nice ambience. Definitely a hidden gem.

    (4)

  • Andrew B.

    Got here around 11:25 AM on a Wednesday for lunch with coworkers. Sat immediately. Love the venue. Cozy, maybe a tad on the small side, but not a (complete) hole in the wall. I could see spending some time sitting at the bar some night. The staff seems friendly and attentive. The entrees and sandwiches seem a bit pricey. I paid $18 for a brisket plate ... half pound of ok-but-not-awesome brisket, baked sweet potato side. Coworker had a $12 brisket sandwich that also felt a bit pricey. Ordered a wedge salad and it was GINORMOUS. Way bigger than Karl Ratszch's, and cheaper to boot. Tons of toppings on it ... maybe a bit too much onion, but everything else was dead-on awesome. Will go again.

    (4)

  • Paul M.

    I like the ambiance, staff was nice most of the food was good. I'm a little bit of a brisket snob I guess and was disappointed with it. Was just to dry for me and just not good. The pulled pork was good. The sweet potato fries were good, just needed a little salt, but that's why it's at the table. Now the sausage was really good. Kind of hard to screw up sausage and they did not. I also liked the sauce selection at the table. I'd go back.

    (4)

  • Ellen M.

    The Texas Popper was outstanding and My husband and I ordered the Smoke Shack Sampler for our main course. They didn't have the baby back ribs and substituted a different kind of ribs, which were good but full of gristle. My husband thought the brisket was dry. All the meat was good but the Sampler was twice as expensive as a barbecue place, which is closer to our house and just as good, if not better. There was no bread offered other than the corn bread and the meal was not well rounded and was full of starch with corn, corn bread, and macaroni and cheese. The Texas and Carolina Sauce were good but the House sauce and others were strange tasting. All in all, it was good but not worth the price.

    (3)

  • Kari G.

    So...you have been open for only one hour and you are out of wings, pulled chicken.... I had lunch here today with the hubs. We had a 20 minute wait, no sweat I understand it is a tiny, yet busy place. We were seated at a community table..different for me, but I'll keep taking it all in. Since it was my first time, I received a thorough explanation about what they are all about, the meats, etc. Excellent! We ordered the fried okra as an appetizer. I ordered the pulled chicken sandwich (at the right time since they ran out by 1pm), and the hubs ordered the brisket sliders. The pulled chicken was nothing to write home about. It appeared to be all white meat, and it was a little dry. I tried the Texas sauce, but that wasn't my flavor. I then tried the Carolina sauce and it had a nice taste. I then tried the Kansas City sauce and it was my favorite. Thick and tangy is my style. My husband thought the sliders were okay, but he had been here before so he didn't offer up much of an opinion. The fried okra lacked flavor/seasoning, but thankfully the sauce added a little zest to each bite. I don't have any complaints other than the wait time and lack of personality from the server..not the best I have ever tried, but definitely not the worst. It's a solid choice when you can get in there to feed your hunger. I am not sure if I will be back, just wanted to cross it off my dining bucket list.

    (3)

  • Kelly B.

    The Smoke Shack is stepping from the city into the country. The decor is rustic the food was good. Say the word "brisket" and my mouth waters. We had the brisket joes they were delicious, just the right amount of smokiness, tang, and sweet. The other highlight was dessert the bourbon praline cake was to die for, so moist and flavorful and the praline sauce cooked to a delicious caramel brown, gooey, deliciousness. Some of our mediocre selections were fried okra and rib tips (definitely go for the whole rib next time) and the pecan pie. Although good not as good as the cake, the whiskey ice cream was also very nummy. Although it seemed a little expensive for the portions I would go back.

    (3)

  • Michael B.

    Every time I find myself in Milwaukee I always try to make it to smoke shack. I enjoy the intimate setting on the interior. Food is always excellent and the service is great. My only complaint is that they do not carry Schlitz beer anymore, but pabst blue ribbon is a nice substitute!

    (4)

  • Nina J.

    Had food delivered on a Sunday when I was upset to be at work. Everthing was hot and fresh and the smell of smoked meat made my mouth water before I could finish signing for the order. Brisket sandwich was juicy and tender. Pork loin was moist and flavorful. Fried okra was crisp and yummy. Have never been disappointed. Love this place.

    (5)

  • Miriam W.

    The alluring aroma of smoked meats greeted us as we arrived, and I really dug the look of the place, which was designed, no doubt, to transport us to a more rural, southern locale. Sadly, the quality of the food here doesn't cut it in my book, and I so wanted to like it after having been seduced by the sights and smells. I got the three meat combo with pulled pork, chicken and sausage, and my partner got a half rack of the spare ribs so we could sample lots of food. Most pitt masters smoke pork shoulder for their pulled pork, which has a nice fat to meat ratio. I'm not sure what they were using here, but if it was shoulder, they had removed all of the fat that makes pulled pork so rich and tasty. It was dry and anemic looking, and had very little flavor other than the sprinkle of spices with which they had senselessly and rather curiously topped it. As for the chicken, I'm not sure why they'e serving it pulled, as opposed to giving us a quarter chicken with a nice crispy skin. I get pulling it for sandwiches, but the pile of chicken on my plate was also dry and uninteresting. The rather random selection of sauces did little to help. I usually like either North Carolina vinegar sauce or South Carolina mustard sauce on my chicken and pulled pork...they did have the South Carolina sauce, but it tasted of little other than yellow mustard with a back note of vinegar. I'm about done trying this sauce anywhere other than where it was originally made, as the rest of the country just doesn't get it. The house sauce and KC sauce were not bad, but they weren't a great match with the meats. The sausage was the winner on the plate, but was too spicy for a barbecue place. Most barbecue in the south is just not about heat, but most northerners don't get it. The baked beans tasted more like Texas beans, with too much chile powder for my taste. They offer both vinegar and creamy slaws on the menu, but, surprise!..they're both creamy. The collards were fine, but needed a little more time in the pan and a lot more pot likker. I bet these guys don't know what pot likker is. The ribs were not meaty or fatty enough and had an egregious amount of dry rub. I'll stop here, but would recommend a trip south to the owners and pitt masters of Smoke Shack. Their restaurant is a confusing mash up of styles, which won't bother people who don't know much about barbecue, but which I find tiresome. I think Central Barbecue in Memphis is the apex, the absolute best, of this type of barbecue, and seems closest to what they're trying to achieve, so maybe they want to start there. I urge them to find a style they love and simplify, and stop putting so many spices in their food. Let the flavor of the ingredients speak for themselves.

    (2)

  • Kelly C.

    Food exceptional (had the ribs and pulled pork). It's dry rub style with your choice of sauces (kansas city was our favorite). Sides were also good ranging from Mac n' Cheese to red cabbage slaw to corn bread and several others. Note, it is communal seating so when things get crowded you might be right next to other guests (which can be fun!) Restaurant has tied the theme together well from the indoor communal tables to the picnic tables and blues music outside to the bathroom decor.

    (4)

  • Ryan B.

    Beautiful rustic patio with live music made the brunch experience even better. Had the Kentucky egg rolls to start off with which were fantastic. The pulled pork and brisket were excellent as well. The Bloody Mary's were nothing to write home about but I thought it was interesting they offered a bloody with Jack Daniels instead of vodka.

    (4)

  • Elle E.

    I love you, Smoke Shack. I actually love that you slow smoke your meats and when they're gone, they're gone. You know, the real deal slow food, food. Sure, I've stopped by when you no longer have ribs, but it's my own damn fault for dilly-dallying. So, I'll try something new. And I've never been disappointed. Have I mentioned your vegetables? Love your greens and I had some pretty amazing roasted root vegetables in winter. And do nachos count as a vegetable? I didn't think so, but whatever, a girl can dream. I love your 47 seats and your rough wood. I love sitting at the bar and the tables. So why in the hell haven't I enjoyed your free delivery to downtown locales? I work 5 days a week downtown. I must be daft! When I love something, I just do. I probably shouldn't tell too many people though.

    (5)

  • Nick K.

    I was really excited to see this place open up, so naturally I had to go and give it a try. Small place, but awesome. The decor is very warm and inviting, and also fits the theme. I had the brisket sloppy joe, and well well well, it looks like I have a new favorite sandwich in Milwaukee. I love barbecue sauce, and I love brisket. Your typical brisket sandwich doesn't have much sauce, or at least not like this. SO GOOD. The sweet potato fries were very good, light actually, because they were not soaked in grease. If I would rate just based on the coleslaw, probably would be a 1 star, but who goes to a joint based on their coleslaw? Overall, really great. I can't wait to go back and try other menu items!

    (4)

  • Ariel W.

    Decided to go her for my dads birthday dinner and glad we did. The restaurant look like a shack which is awesome and is small but cozy. Dime with a rustic cabin feeling. Can smell the smoker when walking inside. Was greeted by Amber who was sweet and sat us right away and walked us through the concept. Then our waitress Meghan who was also nice suggested some items and talked about the place before talking our orders. We got the candied Bacon as starters. The sweet potato fries that came with it was a great way to figure out which sauce we liked the most to put on our entrees cause nothing come with sauce on it. So you can make it to your liking. You can choose from 4 different flavors. You can make as saucy as you like. The bacon was addicting. As you can see by the picture there was only one strip left when I remembered to take a picture. We were just so hungry from when we first entered inside. We chowed down right away. I loved how the drinks came in ball jars. I got the Pulled Chicken sandwich. The chicken was moist and full of flavor that it really didn't need to put much or any sauce on it if you want a whole different twist. I did put the Kansas sauce on it cause I like the sweet and spicy flavor. My sister got the Pulled Pork Sandwich. She was in a food coma after eating it. My dad got the Brisket Sammich. I enjoyed it but did have a little to much fat on it. My brother got the Pulled Pork from the smoker and again was pleased and stuffed. I also got a side of the Cornbread. This is the BEST cornbread I have ever had. Almost like pound cake. Dense, sweet, not dry and didn't need any butter or sauce cause it had such great flavor. We got the Pecan Pie. Which was tasty with the Purple Door whiskey ice cream. The ice cream flavor is exclusive to Smoke Shack. Can't wait to return and get some Baby Back Ribs and more Cornbread. Such a great concept. Nice addition to Milwaukee.

    (5)

  • Nick M.

    Thanks to Kyle H., I will never be able sing "Love Shack" again without replacing Love with Smoke. But then again he was the one who took me here so I guess I can't complain too much. This place really is a shack but I like shacks. I think shacks have gotten a bad rap. Maybe, after eating here you just might feel the same. This is some down home BBQ cookin'. Are we in the south?! Because it sure as hell tastes like it!! Pulled pork, Fried green tomatoes, corn chowder, ribs, okra, and so on. Even hot sauces at the table. This is the kind of food you can get messy with and that's ok because everyone is in the same boat. Oh wait... except for that girl over there eating the salad. Boo!! Hiss!! Not let's not forget the bar. Loaded up craft beers, your regular beverages, and some classics done right with Jim Beam (sidecars, old-fashions, and good ol' Memphis Iced Tea) . They even have a cider. The staff seems pretty darn playful too. Quick with the drink, quick with the food, and quick with the smiles. I'll be back. "The Smoke Shack is a little old place where we can get together Smoke Shack baby! Smoke Shack, that's where it's at!"

    (5)

  • L M.

    Solid. If you like BBQ, you won't be disappointed. Go.

    (5)

  • Marvin M.

    My whole family loved it! The brisket was amazingly tender (like butter!). The waitress knew all the menu items and the ingredients and was able to help navigate some of our picky eaters. No ribs until after 5--they are roasting it all day to be fresh at dinner. Sweet potatoes and sweet potato fries available.

    (5)

  • Alissa R.

    Some really good smoked meat. My friend and I split the chili bowl and corn chowder soup as appetizers because they both sounded delicious. And they were! The corn chowder had a bit of a kick to it, but not too overpowering. The chili was more soup-y than thick like chili i'm used to, but it was very good. As my main dish I had the pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and their potato chips. Very yummy. It doesn't come with bbq sauce on it, but in the center of the table are 4 different kinds of bbq sauce to use. Personally, I liked the house bbq sauce. If/when I make it back out to Milwaukee, I would love to visit this place again.

    (4)

  • Hawthorn M.

    Perhaps as a native of East Tennessee, I'm somewhat biased when it comes to smoked meats and home cookin'. But Smoke Shack left much to be desired in almost every way. The decor and location were nice, quaint even, but that's about where the positives stopped. Our server was cold and distant, and did not ask if we had previously been to this location or were new -- there were some questions about the menu that I would have liked to have answered. Finding out that the sweet tea is made with simple syrup was a bit of a disappointment, but then paying $8 for a mixed drink that was essentially a fancy Screwdriver eclipsed that annoyance quite well. The food was ok. It was edible. It didn't taste /bad/ or make us sick. But for $13 a plate I was expecting at least good eatin'. Our plates came out lukewarm, even the side of mac and cheese at room temperature. The meats tasted and felt more like they'd been in a slow cooker than a smokehouse, and on their own did not offer much in the way of flavor or texture. The sauces at the table did have some nice flavor to them, but the point of a smokehouse is not to cover up boring meat with fancy sauce. The sides were mediocre at best. The mac n cheese was bland and cold, with a runny sauce that did not cling to the noodles at all. The vinegar slaw was tolerable, but not any different from a slaw that might accompany one's Friday Fish Fry at the local diner. The "corn bread," if it can even be called that, tasted like angel food cake. It was saccharine and downright....fluffy. Ugh, it hurts to even think about it. There was obviously far too much white flour and not enough actual corn meal in the recipe, not even considering the amount of white sugar added to the cakey nonsense. This may have been acceptable if we paid Perkins prices, or if this was some dive on a country road. But the hipster neo-primitive decor and hyped up attitude (plus somewhat pricey entrees and small portions) set us up for much better than what we got. If you're from Wisconsin and you have no idea what Southern food tastes like then you might be able to enjoy this. But the ambiance and the good reviews left me hungry for some good cookin' --- instead all I got was sad cheese sauce and a polenta-wannabe corn pone. I was excited to try the bacon brownie, but after our disappointing entrees we elected not to risk it.

    (1)

  • Melissa L.

    Can't get rib tips at lunch time :( But you can get pulled pork nachos!!! Delish. Good luck getting a seat during busy times. Awesome patio.

    (4)

  • Rachel F.

    I really dig Smoke Shack. With less than 50 seats, this spot's a cozy one. No reservations! Don't let that stop you, though. Killer apps, sides for days, and house smoked meats served sans sauce means you choose your own adventure on the sauce tip: Kansas City, Texas BBQ, House BBQ, Carolina Gold or 24 Habanero, or none at all. I'm a big fan of the Carolina Gold; mustard and vinegar are two of a few of my favorite things. (Second place shout out to the Kansas City sauce, tho.) Believe it or not, they've got veg options too! (roasted portabello + Seitan sandwiches) Also, they have BRUNCH. Basically, Smoke Shack is the business. Yelplife problems: I'm an idiot for writing this review at 12:38pm. I'm so hungry and everything on their menu looks SO good right now. Sigh.

    (4)

  • Steve L.

    After venturing around the Third Ward, the thought of a hearty pulled-something-or-another with barbecue sauce and some sides seemed mighty alluring. Ventured in at around 3:00pm on a Saturday afternoon. The place was largely empty. + Cool outdoor patio area - Weren't allowed to sit on it, as rain was pending + Prompt seating at a high-top table near the bar + Super cozy and weathered feeling inside. Dark. Not too loud. - Won't hold too many people; I'd guess the limit is around 60-70? - No tap beers? - Smallish bottled beer list + Moderate selection of whiskeys and bourbons + Drinks served in Mason jars + Simple menu; meats are served "dry" - you add your own sauce (as it should be!) - Pricey; a 2-meat plate with sides rings in around $17. For about 1/2-lb of meat, it's on the higher side of BBQ joints. + Pulled pork was decent. Not much bark. Wasn't dry; wasn't too greasy. + Pulled chicken was decent. Not much smoke flavor. - Wish there hadn't been skin included in the pulled chicken - it was rubbery and not good + Seasonal veggies (braised Brussels Sprouts) were superb - Vinegar slaw tasted more like a creamy slaw - Server wasn't overly helpful or engaging; seemed to be going through the motions and like she didn't really care to be there. Bartender also kept to himself, despite having a few folks sit at the bar. So... you can do a lot worse (see Saz's, for example). This place is a solid OK.

    (3)

  • Nathasja T.

    It is official, I am in love with Milwaukee. This little love shack may or may not have something to do with this statement. Why do I call it the love shack you ask? Easy. I love.. the pulled pork. Succulent, juicy, smokey pork with several sauce options on the side. Sauce is not necessary though, this little piggy has plenty of flavor (and made me go wee, wee, wee) I love.. the ribs. Fall off the bone ribs with a nice smokey bark, dry rubbed and awesome flavor. Again, sauce is optional. I love.. dat sausage. It's juicy, it's got snap, it's sized above average and it's shaped adequately. Wait. Never mind.. (but get the sausage though). I love.. the corn bread! It is so good, it almost reminds me of a corny pound cake. Sweet, and much more cake-like than bread-like in flavor. I love.. the sweet potato fries. Crispy, sweet sticks of orange hued goodness. Pretty awesome. Lastly, I really REALLY dig the style of this joint. Super cute styling and decor. I can't wait to come back!

    (5)

  • Jess S.

    Love the ambience. Delicious brisket (get there before it runs out)! The chicken was moist and delicious. The different BBQ sauces offered were also fun to sample with. Highly recommend having a dinner at this adorable restaurant!

    (4)

  • Alan L.

    Solid bbq. I've never had such tender brisket. My wife tasted it and was jealous because it was better than hers which is a pretty good feat. We also had the chicken. Both were good. Very light smoke flavor. We also tried the fried green tomatoes. Another good choice. We will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Matt R.

    The only reason I am not giving this place 5 stars is because they were out of coleslaw. I mean I did show up on a Sunday at 8:30 so partiality my fault. The service was great, the food was great, the overall atmosphere was great, everything was on point(as kids would say these days). I would recommend trying all of their barbecue sauces, my fav was the Kansas City blend!

    (4)

  • Angela W.

    This was a last minute, split second decision, made by the boyfriend, for a brunch spot... And it ended up being one of his better calls. Although when we arrived and the place was busy, it is also a smaller restaurant which made it less noisy, which was really pleasant. As usual, we chose a spot at the bar. Kim greeted us right away (she was so awesome, had to give her a shout-out). She gave us some drink and menu recommendations and was just overall really friendly. We started with a Ruby Mimosa (fresh squeezed grapefruit juice!) and a Virgin Mary. Loved the option of grapefruit!! For all of you non-pulp fans, be aware that there is pulp in this drink. Also... I thought for a mimosa, it was a bit steep ($8), even if it's fresh squeezed. And the BF was really happy with the Mary, said it was perfectly spiced and served with a simple garnish skewer of and olive, pickle, cheese chunk and a slice of andouille sausage. Let's get to brunch... DELICIOUS!! They had some really unique options and I loved that they had a few items that were both offered "sweet" or "savory". I had the potato pancakes "savory" served with their pulled pork on top. It was perfect!! It is pretty dense and I could only finish half, so definitely no need to add sides to this one. And the BF had the chicken with pablano waffles, which he saturated in their apple cinnamon syrup and devoured. Overall, we were really satisfied with our entire experience, my only reason for 4 stars rather than 5 was the pricing, it's kind of pricy. We are looking forward to trying dinner next!

    (4)

  • Michelle B.

    A solid food experience in every way. Ribs, brisket, pork loin, sausage, southern style veggies and fried stuff - Smoke Shack has got it. My boyfriend and I each went for a two meat plate...and it was TOUGH to figure out which meats to choose. (Tough...meat...get it? Teehee) They all sounded delicious. I got the pork loin and brisket and he got the sausage and brisket. We both agreed the sausage lacked a little "something" while the other chosen meats were on the money. Accompanied with our mains were the fried green tomatoes, thickly encrusted in breadcrumbs and served with a chipotle mayo-like sauce, Mac and cheese, red cabbage coleslaw and fried corn on the cob. Everything was great except for maybe the corn -- turns out this fried corn tastes similar to regular corn, just a bit crunchier. You can choose from four different barbecue sauces on the table, all of which are tasty. We liked the Kansas City and the Carolina best. Our booze consisted of an old fashioned for the guy and the Jack and Jill cocktail for me - a light, fruity drink with muddled blackberries and Jack Daniels. Delicious. We finished the meal with some bourbon bacon brownies and a bowl of apple and strawberry crumble. Word to the wise: spring for dessert. Our server was very present and knowledgeable and always let us know that our dishes were on their way out - something I appreciate. It also wasn't very busy on a Friday night, which as a recent ex-New Yorker, I completely appreciate. Love not having to wait long for good food.

    (5)

  • Martha G.

    lol this place is literally a shack, which I thought was pretty cool. It is a little small however. Decided to go for dinner last night (4/13/15) When I walked in there wasn't anyone manning the host booth so I helped myself to a seat at the bar. I came for the baby back ribs, but unfortunately they did not have them last night (which is one reason why I gave them 2 stars :-( So I decided to order the pulled pork sandwich with a side of beans and greens. The server/bartender brought out my plates, literally like 5 minutes after I had ordered, which made me a little worried...(another reason why I gave them 2 stars. The greens weren't great- i think these might have been the most untraditional tasting greens I have ever had. I wouldn't recommend ordering them. The beans had quite a kick and were pretty spicy (also not your typical bbq baked beans, but give 'em a try). The sandwich did come with quite a bit of meat and I'm glad I got that instead of the entree, cause I couldn't finish it. I used the Kansas City BBQ sauce which was pretty good! The sauce, Habanero BBQ I think, was pretty darn spicy. Wanted to order dessert, but the only thing that called out to me was the Brownie, which the server mentioned tasted very much like bacon and I wasn't in the mood for that :-( Overall, I am a little disappointed by the food, service wasn't bad.

    (2)

  • Albina O.

    This place turned me from a herbivore into a carnivore. The candied bacon- oh my. Pulled pork was fabulous, and I don't even like pork. Spare ribs were delicious- juicy, meaty, finger licking good. The sweet potato fries were terrific- and that's coming from a sweet potato fry connoisseur. We will be back- for the bbq, and just to buy their sauce from r our own grill. Baby back ribs were sold out on a Wednesday at 7pm :( resulted in a very sad boyfriend.

    (5)

  • Holden K.

    I went back with the same friend as last time. The portion size has definitely improved. The only bad thing I could say about the brisket was that it was pretty bland, but I think that was intentionally done because they offer so different sauces for your BBQ flavor preferences. I'm not exactly sure what they use to smoke the meat, but it's missing that smokey flavor one would expect, along with the pink smoke lines in the meat. I ordered the mac and cheese as my side, and it was bland. Salt on the table took care of that though. My friend ordered the brussel sprouts and they were delicious, but he seemed less than impressed with the BBQ. Joe was nice enough to comp our meals though. Thank again Joe. As a southerner living in Milwaukee, I yearn for a great BBQ place here. I want Smoke Shack to be great, but it's just missing that BBQ flavor you'd expect. I'll visit again after some time has passed to reevaluate it.

    (2)

  • Basam A.

    Two stars is too low, but by giving three I'm definitely being generous. The food wasn't bad, the service wasn't bad, and the location wasn't bad. The food was okay, the service was okay, but I don't pay $19 for okay brisket and 18% tip for okay service. Bottom line is, prepare to be underwhelmed and over priced. I think the money is going towards the ambiance because it surely not going into these tiny portions. You'll drop over $25 each and leave hungry. My advice would be to go to Big Daddy in Bayshore mall, you get what you pay for. Oh and last thing, sitting on stools with no backs is just plain dumb.

    (3)

  • Teal R.

    Stumbled upon Smoke Shack after being turned away from the Wicked Hop. I have been having a craving for bbq and this really hit the spot. My boyfriend and I both tried the pulled pork with ma's slaw. I had the Kansas City sauce which was so good. I usually don't like sweet sauces but this was something else. We tried the sweet potato fries and the grilled corn. Fries were ok but I'm not much of a sweet potato fan and my boyfriend devoured the corn. Great atmosphere, small and cozy inside (even a live guitarist). It was chilly out but the outside area looked great as well. I'd venture back here to try more!

    (4)

  • Jv's M.

    Omg brunch brunch Try them fit brunch it's so good and the cinnamon roll was delicious can't complain lots of food for a great price and if you get in early on Sunday they have local artist performing Great look and feel to it wi be going back again soon

    (5)

  • Justin N.

    Wow! All four of us got the pulled pork sandwiches and they are extremely good. I've had pulled pork across the country and this is some legit pulled pork. If you are up in Milwaukee, make sure to give this place a try. The atmosphere is really fun, it's literally a shack and the waitresses are super friendly. Right down in the Third Ward, you can walk around afterwards (which you'll want to do!)

    (4)

  • Anya K.

    Ribs and pulled pork are great here. Note that ribs are not served all the time, you would be disappointed if you tried to order them at brunch. Has a present and cozy feel to the restaurant.

    (4)

  • Lauren W.

    The pulled pork & ribs are verrry good & served dry so you can try all the sauces. The smoke shack salad is generous, I just wish there were no chicken skins mixed in with the chicken in the salad. The mixed drinks are really quite weak. I think I'll stick with the beers. Also, our service was very slow. Our waitress didn't seem overly attentive. The other wait staff seemed to be moving quicker. Ours seemed to be waiting until she had more than one reason to venture to our side of the patio.

    (3)

  • Paul I.

    Great joint. Cool atmosphere, great cocktails and wonderful BBQ...I love that the food comes to your table "dry" with a caddie of sauces. Great place - and within walking distance to the Marcus Amphitheater. (The Stones the night we were there)

    (4)

  • Alexis B.

    very hip place, super "Pinterest" feel to it but in a good way. Efficiently using space and outside deck is beautiful. Perfect date spot or just a great place to catch dinner with the pals. Very good fried tomatoes and exquisite BBQ and meat.

    (4)

  • Rodrigo R.

    Great brisket, amazing sweet potato fries, Great atmosphere, music was really good!!!

    (5)

  • Jen T.

    First time @SmokeShack and I am a huge fan. I joined my friend for an early evening dinner. We shared 2 appetizers: Fried Green Tomatoes with chipotle aioli, cilantro and lemon zest along with a Texas Popper stuffed with cream cheese and topped with onion, arugula and BBQ sauce. The only complaint on the Texas Popper is that you pay $7.50 for half of a poblano pepper. Sharing this appetizer between 2 people only allows for a "taste" to tantalize your tastebuds. We additionally enjoyed Texas Nachos topped with pulled pork and a fabulous Roasted Portobello sandwich. The Texas Nachos are considered to be an appetizer but honestly, it's a meal and then some! It was a mound that could easily serve 4 people. It lasted me 3 meals. My friend completely enjoyed the Portobello mushroom sandwich. Smoke Shack is where it's at!

    (4)

  • K T.

    Good brisket. Sauces were tasty. Cornbread was average. Red vinegar slaw was fabulous. Service was very good. Portions average. Overall good, but have had better BBQ.

    (4)

  • Aimee M.

    I love BBQ. Would it be sacrilegious to say my favorite part of the meal was a veggie item at a BBQ restaurant? I mean I really liked my brisket sloppy joe but the fried green tomatoes blew me away. Absolutely Delicious! We ordered take out but got there early so we had to wait a bit at the bar for pick up. I loved the atmosphere here, everyone seemed to be having a great time, and the bartender (who also took our order) was super friendly. They quoted me a 20 minute wait for our food and they were spot on. We took it back to our hotel and everything was packaged nicely and stayed hot. Like I said, the Fried Green Tomatoes were delicious--a fresh green tomato slice that has a light crisp when you bite in. The dipping sauce that is paired with it (a chipotle lemon dip) was perfect. I would gladly order this again in a heartbeat. My brisket sloppy joe was also really good. Flavorful tender brisket, green pepper and onion in their Texas BBQ sauce. Drooling? Yes, I don't blame you. I got a side of sweet potato fries--excellent, well made and not mushy. And red cabbage coleslaw--not a fave, it almost had an ammonia quality to it. This place is small. Many reviews say that they sometimes run out of more popular items by the end of the day. They're not kidding. By 830pm they were out of ribs. All in all, this place is solid.

    (4)

  • Veronica V.

    We came in around 7/730 on a Saturday night and had to wait a few minutes for a table. NOTE: they only have like 6 tables, a counter, and seating at the bar so if you come during primetime expect to eat at the bar or wait. It looks like they have seating outside, so in summer I would expect it to be easier to get a spot. We started out with the Pulled Pork Nachos - AMAZING. Wow- these were so good, I canot wait to have them again. For dinner, we ordered a 4 pcs meat combo and some sides to split. For the meat we ordered chicken x2, pulled pork, and briscut. They were all very good. For sides we got sweet potato fries, mac n cheese, corn bread and corn on the cob - all were delcious. Our bill with 2 drinks and 2 sodas came to $80.

    (4)

  • Monkey T.

    NO antibiotics! NO hormones! Warm, clean, dark interior on a chilly 12 degree day(Go Hawks!), mid-run pickup and so tempted by the fully stocked bar... Bourbon would warm this Monkey up right now. (Contemplated adding a shot of Jack to my Camelback as antifreeze). Friendly, helpful service, TV, booths and barstools or on warmer days, patio seating awaits. Looking forward to those days... Monkey do: BERKSHIRE PORK LOIN .5#- smoked, cut, rubbed then grilled, three large, lean and delicious medallions. Smells great but since I took it ToGo, I didn't get that smoky bite. Maybe next time I'll dine in. (Seasonal)SAUTÉED BRUSSEL SPROUTS- perfect white wine & butter NOT soggy BOURBON PRALINE CAKE-made with Woodford Reserve Bourbon- Awesome! Four bottles of sauce to choose from at your table: CAROLINA GOLD- mustard & vinegar TEXAS- tomato & spicy KANSAS CITY- smoky & sweet HOUSE- this & that Monkey dipped in all, thoroughly tried and decided: TIE between Kansas City & House! All those togo sauces will come in handy to kick up my boring airport food tomorrow(Texas invigorated my chicken!). Do come and try for yourself which you like best. The hard part is choosing which entree, sandwich or combination! Monkey will definitely return to try PULLED CHICKEN or SAUSAGE, if not the BABY BACKS... Decisions, decisions! Note to self: Must end run here to pig out.

    (4)

  • Alex R.

    A reclaimed barn built this place, and if that wasn't cool they are the same owners of Swig. A must go spot every time I am visiting the land of beer and cheese. Knowing that ribs don't come out til 5, we tend to visit during the dinner time. HOWEVER lunch is a treat, and the pulled pork is a guaranteed hit. I like to drown my meat in the hot hot habanero, it is amazingly delish!! The corn chowder & fried green tomatoes are consistently ordered, and shared....but before we can lick our lips out come the meat. Oh the meat........I used to order the chicken (combo plates provide best value, and allow all of my taste buds to be pleased) but have swapped that out. And haven't looked back. Stay away....leave me all the burnt ends too....

    (5)

  • LeAnn O.

    Had the BRISKET SLOPPY JOE. It was a huge serving of brisket with onions, peppers, BBQ sauce on a bun with fresh thick cut chips. DELISH!

    (5)

  • Melissa T.

    Try the candied bacon. The rib tips did not taste as awesome as they smelled, the sauces could use a less smokey option and without mustard but that's just taste buds and opinions. Service was fine but the coleslaw was not appreciated by anyone at the table and the mac N cheese was definitely not decadent as described. Pulled pork was good..sweet potato fries were alright too. Just kinda alright.

    (3)

  • Stephanie B.

    My boyfriend is a die hard BBQ guy, so when he heard of this place... I knew we had to try it. We went there in December around 5 pm and had a 30 min wait. We walk around the cute little streets and saw incredible Christmas Decor. When we came back, we were seated right away. I got a vodka lemonade in a cute mason jar. The whole theme is rustic, LOVE IT. We got the sample platter to share which is a little of everything. It was delicious. We eat had enough for a meal for lunch the next day. My favorite was the ribs and my boyfriend's was the brisket.

    (5)

  • Rachel S.

    Love the food. Great BBQ and fantastic kettle chips. Fries are pretty good, not crazy about the cornbread. I've been once in person and ordered once from a hotel room. In person, we adored the different sauces but ordering, we couldn't get any sauce at all. Hubs and I had to buy an entire jar and we were getting on a plane home in the morning, so half went to waste. It was also traumatic to have to agree on one sauce, as Hubs likes things mild as oatmeal and I want my BBQ to make me cry. But hey, thanks for delivering to a hotel!

    (4)

  • Andy K.

    Ten buck lunch I've been dining at the Smoke Shack regularly for lunch since they first opened and the food keeps me coming back. Dinner choices are first-come, so get here early if you want something in particular! Pulled Pork Nachos - This is where it's at! You get a heap of tortilla chips with a perfect blend of melted cheese, veggies and sour cream. On top of all this goodness is what seems like a half pound of their pulled pork. It's so big you've got a 2nd lunch for later! Salads - I've had the wedge and fried tomato salads numerous times but my preference is the fried tomato with spicy dressing. It's sure to please! Sandwiches - The pulled pork here is exceptional! When they first opened they pushed slaw on top which added another buck to the price and made it way over my $10 lunch limit. The bun is great for soaking up their home-made sauce. Sides - Mac and cheese, corn bread, kettle chips, there is not a bad item on the menu.

    (5)

  • Carrie G.

    I typically go out for lunch once, maybe twice in a two week span. But the great deals of Downtown Dining, and friends and colleagues that want to try new places are difficult to say no to. The latest being Smoke Shack; which was chosen by friends that had never been, and since it's been a while for me, it sounded like a good plan. They had the standard DD menu which offered two choices for each of three courses. But this is the first restaurant i've been to that offered their dinner menu at lunch, which was a great choice. The dinner menu had a cocktail course and my friends that didn't have to work after lunch found that rewarding. I ordered from the lunch menu and opted for Cornmeal Fried Okra, the Smoke Shack Salad, and the Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich. My favorite course was the Smoke Shack salad, pictured below. Usually when I order a salad in a restaurant there's five times more greens than anything else. But Smoke Shack has a handle on that. First the bowl the salad was served in was almost as high as it was wide and deep, resembling a square. Second, the salad had so many toppings that they were bound to outnumber the romaine base. There was a trace of house smoked Berkshire bacon crumbles, fresh roma tomatoes, plenty of pulled smoked chicken, a few ribbons of cucumber,a half of a hard boiled egg and some blue cheese sprinkles. That's a lot for that little bowl. And the dressing was a house made honey mustard that was fantastic. It really brought all the flavors in the entire salad together. The cornmeal fried okra was good, but not exactly what I expected. I know cornmeal is typically ground very fine but I thought the coating on the okra would be more like a breading, but it instead resembled a batter. And because the texture of okra is not smooth, the batter formed a tube/cone shape that didn't really coat the okra, it was just a vessel to serve it in. I really didn't mind because I could pull out the okra (which had great seasoning and flavor) and not have to eat all that excess batter, but it was interesting nonetheless. I wanted to like the pulled pork sandwich more than I did. There was a sizable amount of meat, but the bun was huge. I understand this could be intentional because when you cover the pork with sauce something needs to hold the sandwich together, but it was just a really, really big bun. I understand that you choose your the sauce flavored to your liking add the amount that suits you. But the pork still tasted dry to me, no matter how much sauce I added (and I'm not a fan of super wet bbq). I'm sure there are as many answers to this as there are fish in the sea, so I'm just pointing out my challenges. In the end I ate about half the meat and none of the bun. But my take home portion that sat in sauce in the fridge all afternoon made for a tasty dinner. The aforementioned sauces are key to the bbq here and are worthy to note. They include: Kansas City - a sweet (but not overly sweet) sauce on the front, with a light and smokey finish. I liked this one best. Texas BBQ - a tomato based that was completely overpowered by Tabasco-esque flavors. Carolina Gold - A deep mustard based with a well balanced vinegar tang at the end of your tongue. Kick 24 Habanero - Sorry, when I see habanero I become strictly a spectator. House BBQ- The menu says "not too much of one thing and just enough of the others". And I would agree. You can taste tomato, tabasco, chipotle, salt, vinegar but none of them overwhelms the other. All ingredients play very nice together in this sauce that's ideal if you can't choose between the others. And worth noting is the stellar service. During things like Downtown Dining places are busier than usual, and I hesitate to judge the service less I am too harsh. But Smoke Shack was well staffed with experienced servers. Ours was friendly and efficient and did a great job a pacing things. All said, I would definitely go back, and consider another star, preferably when the weather allows for dining on their wonderful patio or deck.

    (3)

  • Katie K.

    I have ate here twice and both times have been really good. The brisket sammich is really good (although my mother got this sandwich on our second visit and most of the sandwich was fatty pieces of meat which was disappointing). The rosemary wings are really amazing and if you get a side, the bbq chips rock. I was not a fan of the nachos and the wedge salad was just okay. I'll look forward to my next visit because there is still so much more I want to try!

    (4)

  • Merete M.

    These people know their meats and veggies. I wasn't crazy about my whisky sour, though. That small flaw aside, this place has the perfect ambiance for what they're slingin'. I enjoyed the two meat plate (Chicken and pulled pork) with a side of the veg of the day (brussels sprouts - so delicious) and we had an order of the fried green tomatoes and stuffed pepper. Everything Was Great. I'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Jeffrey M.

    First review because it was so bad. Told me I could call 30 minutes beforehand to get a table beforehand, changed their Mind when I called. Out of the first 3 things I ordered, none were in stock. Finally ordered Sausage dish, it was a complete joke...$13.50 for 2 sausages and a side of garbage. Can't remember the last time I complained this much about anything, so it must be "that bad". Was more satisfied with Arby's fast food than this crap.

    (1)

  • Brian H.

    If you take this place as a whole, I think it's worthy of 4 stars, but if you're talking specifically about the food, it's more like a 3, and that might be generous. My wife and I stopped in for lunch while wandering around the 3rd ward. Service was awesome. Very knowledgeable about gluten free, and knew a lot about the menu, portion size, favors, drinks, etc. All very good. Very attentive also. The food? Meh. I had the 4 meat combo. pulled pork was...ok if you drowned it in sauce (which is not my style normally). The tenderloin was SOOO dry I didn't eat it. No amount of sauce was going to save that. The brisket was pretty good though, with/without sauce. The spicy sausage link was awesome! Now, let's talk about the mac'n cheese side. There was NOTHING good about this. Pasta was chewy, and the cheese sauce was practically water. It was all sitting on the bottom of the bowl. It was more like a watery cheese broth with under cooked pasta sitting in it. Not good. I barely touched that. They were giving out free cinnamon rolls when you first sat down, those were AMAZING. SUPER good. Pricing was excessive to say the least. My wife had the pulled pork, I had the 4 meat combo, and we each had a drink. $72 with tip. For lunch. 2 people. The good stuff: There are LOTS of options on the menu, and their drink selection is outstanding. The atmosphere is perfect also. Indoor and shaded outdoor seating was really nice (although seating is limited due to space constraints, so I would make sure I go here at off-times). The attention to detail with the theme of the place is spot on. I've been to several BBQ places like this all over the country, and you'd swear you were in Austin or Tucson or something. From the drink names, to the nailed wood slat walls, galvanized panels everywhere, the the look/feel of the place is as authentic as you can get. Good stuff. Loved it. In conclusion (I guess this review was long enough to need a conclusion), I would go back. If their ribs are good, it MIGHT become a frequent stop, but if the ribs are anything like the rest of the food, I'm pretty sure I'll be passing this place up in the future.

    (3)

  • Laura R.

    Food was good . Prices are high for the quantity you get. Agree with previous review you will leave hungry . That needs to be liked at !!

    (3)

  • Michelle M.

    This has got to be one of my favorite restaurants I've ever been to. From the excellent service, the wonderful atmosphere, and the phenomenal food, this place is simply fantastic. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our meal here. I had the pulled chicken entrée and he had a pulled pork sandwich. Both words great and the homemade barbecue sauces were delicious. We loved the sweet potato fries and the 4 cheese mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was the best I've ever had. It was so so good. My hubby said he would drive up from Chicago just to eat at this place. We hope we can come again!

    (5)

  • Kris U.

    Last week I had the pleasure of paying the Smoke Shack a little visit while on my super quick biz trip in MKE. The wonderful Rachel F had been itching to try this spot out herself, so I was thrilled to give them a shot being both of our first times here! Being a Wednesday night it was surprisingly busy, even for a later dinner crowd, but we were seated right away, which was great. It really does look like a run down little shack, old reclaimed wood abound, a non-descript kind of run -down (purposely) exterior and a small hanging sign. Cool! We shared an order of pulled pork egg rolls which were delicious, thick and filled to the brim with wonderfully sauced and tender pulled pork. Yum!! For my main I went with the Full rack of ribs and a side of Brussel sprouts and macNCheese. The Mac was awesome and the sprouts were well done, not overly seasoned, so I enjoyed them a bunch! That all being said the real winner was the ribs. A full rack normally puts me in the ICU with a food coma for days, but these were succulent, fall off the bone and surprisingly light for pork ribs. I cleaned all but 2 or 3 ribs and could have easily finished the rest but decided to behave myself for a change. I really enjoyed that they provided you with add your own BBQ sauces at your table. Each from a different style of BBQ, from memory there was a St. Louis style, a Kansas Style and a Texas style.. My fave hands down was the Kansas sauce! It'll probably be awhile before I'm back in MKE again, but when I do return, I think I might need to come back for a Smoke Shack BBQ fix! Eatcrest Out!

    (4)

  • Tom W.

    BBQ is a top 5...nay, Top 3 cuisine for me, so I'm embarrassed to admit that I haven't tried many of the joints around Milwaukee. Therefore, I can't be as superfluous as I sometimes am in reviews. However, if the words Burnt Ends Benedict don't make you get in your car right now and drive to this Third Ward gem then you simply cannot be helped.

    (5)

  • Stacy S.

    Everything I tried was excellent. I'm picky with brisket, but they definitely impressed me. We enjoyed the Mac and cheese, corn bread, pulled chicken. I loved the assortment of bbq sauces. Nice little outdoor area. Come early because they do run out!

    (5)

  • Vy T.

    We came on a Thursday night and they were pretty much out of everything but pulled pork. I guess that's a good thing for the restaurant. I come from the South so I'm super picky about my BBQ. I wasn't too impressed with my pulled pork sandwich (a little on the dry end) but I sure did love my corn on the cob and Brussel sprouts. Still thinking about giving it another try.

    (3)

  • Vikki A.

    This place is AMAZING. I always get the pulled pork and I can't get enough, I'm always craving smoke shack. If you love a good barbeque, this is the place to go.

    (5)

  • Kelly B.

    I'm still drooling if I let my mind wander back to one of the most delicious meals I've had in a while on Saturday night... Food-wise this place was a solid 5 star experience. We got there around 5:30 on Saturday trying to beat the rush, as they only have a few tables and do not take reservations. Apparently others had the same idea because we were quoted over an hour wait for a table. There were two open spots at the full service bar so we jumped on a couple stools and waited. And waited. And waited. Finally a bro in a blue polo came over... and just stared at us. Um... you eating? Yes. He tossed a couple menus at us and walked off. That's cool - we aren't thirsty... He came back about 10 minutes later asking what we wanted to drink. Not "do you have any questions", not with waters (which we actually never got). I ordered a glass of wine and Joe ordered an iced tea. He walked over to the bar and seriously pulled out his phone. Then he proceeded to load some dirty glasses up and go to the hallway by the kitchen and shoot the shit with another worker. The only other bartender, Arron, came over and asked if we'd been asked about drinks yet - I said yes the other bartender took our order. Polo-shirt came back behind the bar, POURED HIMSELF A DRINK, and then just STOOD there. Arron came back over and noticed we still didn't have drinks, so asked what we'd like. Within 30 seconds we had our drinks. Nasty way to start the experience here. After a couple sips we started to look over the menu. I like how it is set up a lot, spelling out how long each item is smoked (in house) and which options are veg/GF. I mentioned to Arron that I had never had ribs before, and my troves of yelpers had recommended starting here. He told me which were his favorite sides (best being the mac and cheese and next the fried corn). I had just had Maxie's Mac that week, so I opted for the corn with my half rack of baby back ribs. In just under 20 minutes we saw a runner emerge with our order. Sir-Stands-Alot was the only one behind the bar, as Arron was likely off doing his job somewhere. The runner asked Mr-Pops-His-Collar where the order went to which I'm-Too-Busy-For-This-Place replied with a shrug of his shoulders. I piped up that they were ours, and we finally were able to revel in the beauty of smoked meats. The ribs came smoked and seasoned without sauce - opting instead to let you choose your own. There was Texas, House, Carolina Gold and... something else. I tried them all on their own, but ended up only topping a couple of the ribs with sauce as they were seriously phenomenal on their own. Oh... my... goodness. I was quite seriously shocked at the amount of meat on them! The fried corn was okay, but the fryer unfortunately took out a lot of the moisture that I love so much about corn on the cob. Joe's mac and cheese was seriously the way to go... SOOO creamy and amazing. Arron was quick on his feet offering up refills and following up - plus he engaged in fun banter while still staying focused on taking care of everyone at the bar while having to dance around I-Clearly-Slept-With-Someone-To-Get-This-Job. Arron gave us our bill and cleared us out in great time, and we left with super satisfied bellies, and no leftovers. We were shocked to learn that the Leaning-Tower-of-Texting was a MANAGER. This would easily have been a 5-Star experience if it weren't for the constant negligence displayed by - shockingly enough - management.

    (4)

  • G M.

    The worst bbq I've ever had, very bland and dry. I've had better gas station bbq down south. Slaw was grainy and missing vinegar. The green tomatoes were actually red.

    (1)

  • Laura Z.

    I like slow cooked meats. A lot. Smoke Shack does it right. I'm sure the sides are good too, but what I remember best is that the meat tastes like it is actually smoked for a very long time, with none of that fake smoke flavor. The meat has also never been too dry. I've been for brunch, and it was great to sit outside on the patio on a nice day. I've been for lunch and the sandwiches are the perfect lunch portion. I've been for dinner and the ambiance is lively and fun for a meal out with friends. I also love playing with the different BBQ sauces. I feel like a kid again mixing and matching. Favorites are definitely the house and the Texas. Good stuff! Lastly, you can get delivery through flavor cycle. There is no minimum and you have real, good food that took a long time to cook sitting at your door in under an hour. Winning!

    (4)

  • Shane H.

    I wish I smelled like this place. Went here recently for the first time. There was a special was going on, so I got to try a few sample sizes of some of their appz. I need to return for the full experience because I loved everything I tried. Obvs, their thing is smoking all the meats, and it smells incredible! I need it as a cologne, so...get working on that, Smoke Shack!

    (4)

  • Bobb S.

    I was not impressed. Definitely a cozy, rustic BBQ shack vibe when you walk in. Opted for the brisket sandwich. Living in Texas has spoiled me when it comes to brisket and I feel that it is the true litmus test for a bbq joint. Only the great ones can do it right and Smoke Shack fell short. The meat was more on the dry side and didn't have a well defined smoke ring or bark on the outside. Nothing terrible but nothing great either. Service was fast and friendly. Not a bad place perhaps to grab a drink or an appetizer but for good brisket, I will continue my search.

    (3)

  • David S.

    If you plan on going here for dinner, be sure to get there early (by 5:30) as space is limited and admittedly, that is part of its charm. If you try to go after the main dinner rush, you have to chance on missing out on some of the food on the menu, as they run out of certain items. That being said, if you are told they are out of something, ask when they will have it again. Sometimes the wait staff will say they are out of something because they don't have it right at that moment, but they will in 15 minutes. This happened to me with their wings. I have been here several times and maybe do a co-worker lunch here about every 8 weeks. I usually go for the brisket or the brisket sloppy joe. Prices are pretty much the only reason this doesn't get any more stars. Also, the few month of the year when its warm enough to be outside in WI, the patio is a nice place to get a few adult soda's and some sun.

    (3)

  • Jared C.

    This place is like the BBQ equivalent of an Applebee's. The food is totally soulless. I got the way over-priced pulled pork. Portions are meager. The meat was Crock Pot tender, but without any real flavor. You have to keep reminding yourself it was supposedly barbecued. Yes, I'm from BBQ heaven (Kansas City), but I'm not just being snobby. For the good stuff, go to Ashley's Que. I did - immediately after my disappointing meal at Smoke Shack.

    (2)

  • CJ P.

    A Great little 3rd Ward location with a lot of charm and class to it. I stopped in one of evening after work in need of some good bbq. It was during the week and later in the evening so it was easy to find, parking was no problem, and it wasn't too busy inside. I sat down at the little bar and was quickly greeted by the bartender. I ordered a drink and received a menu and looked through all the delicious sounding options. I had to give the ribs and brisket a try because it just sounded too good not to. This place has great array of sauces. I am not a hot and spicy guy so I had plenty of options still on the mild and sweet Bbq side. When I ordered my food it looked fantastic, and into the first bite I knew something wasn't right. The food was very dry. I am noticing in these Bbq places around town that the slow cook their meats very early in the morning, and they must sit under some heater or warming lamp throughout the day because the juice in the meat was lacking. Great sauce on it, and the meat still had pretty good flavor for being dry, but my only thoughts were, when was this cooked and when was this warmed up? Still a good place to check out. For the places I have been in Chicago and St Louis for BBq I feel Milwaukee still has a ways to go.

    (3)

  • G B.

    The coffee is the worst that I have ever had at any place that wasn't a gas station. The other food is good, but a little pricey. The service was excellent.

    (4)

  • Ariana M.

    I don't eat meat and am still giving Smoke Shack 4 stars...that's saying something! I got a Spotted Cow (nice and cold for 5 bucks), the portobello sandwich with a side of cornbread, and the fruit crumble for dessert. The sandwich was really good, but needed some sauce to be great. Also, there wasn't a whole lot of mushroom on the sandwich..the first (and last) couple bites was just bun. I liked the smokey flavor of the Kansas sauce, so I went with that for my sandwich and sweet potato fries. I hadn't had cornbread in awhile, so I got that on the side. It was sooo good! Just a little bit sweet, not dry at all, and a decent portion for the $1.75 pricetag. The crumble was good too, but it was mostly warm fruit (not a lot of "crumble" on top) but the vanilla ice cream on top paired really well. Will definitely return!

    (4)

  • Noomi J.

    2.5 stars. Food was 2, the fun themed interior bumps it up. We went on a Saturday around 2pm, out of ribs and ribtips til 5. Brisket sandwich ($13.50, served w/sweet potato fries or kettle chips) - 2 stars. Not a fan of how it was served not hot. The waitress said that they do it to keep it at a stable temperature. I would've been fine with that if the brisket had been markedly good, but it was too dry for me. Good bbq doesn't need sauce. This one did. Great flavor towards the bark though. The buns were meh, not warm, too much bread to meat ratio for the sandwich. Sweet potato fries were good. Price for this was higher than I expected considering Smoque in Chicago has their brisket sandwich (served w/slaw and one side) at $10.95 for sliced, $10.45 for chopped. Pulled pork sandwich ($11.50) - 2.5 stars. I had a few bites of this, wasn't impressed. He didn't like how it wasn't served hot either. He did like the smokiness. Cornbread ($1.75) - 3.5 stars. It was tasty, buttery & fluffy, more like cake than cornbread. Not what we were expecting. Fan of the interior and ambiance. They also had patio seating. Not a far walk from the Milwaukee Art Museum. The food was a letdown though. Pass.

    (2)

  • Ilana O.

    The place: The aroma of smoked wood/meat permeated the air once we came within 10 feet of the building. I think this helped prepare us/ primed us for what we hoped to be a great meal. I don't eat a lot of meat, so I actually didn't loooove the smell of the inside of the shack, but we ate outside, and that was quite pleasurable. Service was helpful, prompt, great. The taste: We ordered the bbq seitan sandwich and some vinegar slaw (for me) and a full rack of baby back ribs and cornbread (for him). They said they ran out of onions, so they offered to put Brussels sprouts on my sandwich. That made me really happy. I love Brussels sprouts, but as a surprise to me, there were onions on it too! Score. Love my veggies. The husband and I also tasted all 5 bbq sauces (Carolina gold, Texas, house, Kansas city, and the really spicy one) by putting dollops onto our plate, prior to our food arriving and using our fingers. I recommend trying that. Maybe not with the super spicy one, but each one is really something special. My seitan sandwich, even though some of it ended up in places around and near my mouth, was delicious - juicy, a bit sweet, nice crunch. overall, really satisfying. My husband was happy to have half of a rack left for dinner tomorrow night, since I'm leaving him to fend for himself. My face: Covered in sauce....a true sign that there was a job well done. The wet naps they give you at the end of the meal are far superior to what they give you at buffalo wild wings. Our meal, without drinks, was $40 prior to tip. Really happy that we tried this place, and glad that it's not a far walk from our place. We'll be back, smoke shack.

    (5)

  • Davis J.

    Smoked out. Damn good BBQ. Thank you yelp for the hook up. I recommend getting there early because they sell out of the good stuff, daily. Clearly that is a great indicator that they are delivering on some freakishly good eats. Things I love: Ribs Brisket Mac N Cheese Coleslaw (red cabbage style) Corn Bread Pulled Pork All of their BBQ sauces (I believe they have 5) PBR Tallboys All their Bourbon Not only is this place legit, they offer a full bar and will also deliver to your hotel if in the area (that really made my day). With all that being said, I'm sold. To the owner: bravo sir. I'll be back soon.

    (4)

  • Chelsea H.

    Love their meat here ... Pulled pork brisket what have you. Like the cornbread, dry like cornbread usually is .. But good. When their Mac and cheese is hot pretty good though not the best. Overall I like this place and have come multiple times. Can't go wrong with their house sauce :)

    (4)

  • Tanya M.

    Great casual feel to the shack! House smoked meats daily plus some good sides and desserts. Favorites of mine are the pulled pork sandwich, Mac and cheese and the pecan pie. They have five different sauces to choose from for your meat. The Texas BBQ sauce doesn't have much of a kick to me, but it's the one I usually go for. The pecan pie comes with Purple Door's Whiskey ice cream and you can't go wrong with that! The bacon brownie is also pretty good if you're into bacon in your desserts. Come early to avoid missing your preferred meats! They do sell out. During the summer, head out to the patio for a backyard barbecue kind of experience. Also, don't forget to download the Punchh app to earn coupons if you'll be a repeat diner. They have a nice online ordering system if you're doing take out and even offer delivery for a night in.

    (4)

  • Laura M.

    Plan to be full - every time. This is our favorite place to eat in milwaukee. Comfort food, comfort drinks and bluesy atmosphere. Literally a "shack" but don't hesitate on entering as every single item on the menu is superb. My husbands favorite is the sloppy joe while our buddy Ken raves about the brisket....me...vegetarian...I can gorge on scrumptious sandwiches, decadent Mac n cheese....and holy Heaven even biscuits and gravy. If you love rich food - it's a must

    (5)

  • Jen M.

    We had a pleasant evening here recently. Great outdoor patio and the inside is really cool too. BBQ-ued food was pretty tasty. I had the Texas Popper on the appetizer menu for a meal and it was great. I was worried that there might be too much cream cheese but everything was well balanced and the arugula was a perfect addition. The vinegar slaw was made with all red cabbage which was a bit too...red cabbagey for me. We enjoyed talking with the manager at the bar.

    (4)

  • A C.

    Million dollar interior, made to look like a $5 shack. I give props to the interior designer. Its screams chic shack. Good smoked pork shoulder. Get it dry, ask for the dry rub to taste on the shoulder. Can't go wrong. St. louis ribs are top notch. Good bite, not mushy and fall off the bone (which oddly some people think is good, I can microwave a rib till it falls off the bone that doesn't make it quality, it makes it over cooked). Mac n cheese was underwhelming. Not bad just expected it to be slightly more refined and elevated. Collards were missing pork hock. Not sure why but they're pure vegetarian (probably the owners wife's influence who is also a vegetarian). Drinks are good. Servers are freindly and bar staff is great. Small venue so plan ahead if you are going at rush hour, be prepared to wait or sit at a bar stool.

    (4)

  • Jen W.

    Ilana's review made me come here since I didn't realize they had vegetarian options. Then once I got there I made a meal out of sides anyway (though they did have 2 vegetarian sandwiches available: the seitan one Ilana mentioned and a portobello one). I had okra (my first time and loved it), cole slaw (not super creamy which was fantastic) and corn bread (pretty sweet, very much like dessert). And some cocktail that I can't remember the name of but was really good. I especially love the interior space, super cozy. Can't wait to go back and sit on the patio. Next time I'm going to try the seitan.

    (4)

  • Joe P.

    LOVED the taste of the food. Service was fine. Limited seating so go at non-peak hours if you want to sit right away. Although there are some different beers, maybe not as many varieties as I was hoping for. I would definitely go back though!

    (4)

  • Theresa F.

    5 stars for atmosphere, music, service. 1 star lost for side dishes we ordered and lack of rib tips! We ordered the brisket sliders which were great. Corn bread and "mess of greens"..? Meh. Corn bread tasted like corn cake. I'm not a BBQ snob, but I am a southern food snob. Corn bread should taste like...bread. Not vanilla flavored corn cake. Mess of greens were OK, but that's not a fair review considering I don't like greens to begin with. Will come back again for brunch! Looked amazing!

    (4)

  • Ellie B.

    I've been to Smoke Shack a couple of times since my last review and it's still holding strong as one of my favorite places to eat in Milwaukee. I still order the same thing because it is so, so good and I never want anything else. For a refresher, that's the homemade seitan sandwich, sweet potato fries, side of bbq slaw, side of macaroni and cheese and drown everything in mustardy Carolina Gold! Save room for dessert!

    (5)

  • Joshua C.

    I had the pulled pork sandwich and sweet potato fries. The sandwich wasn't that good compared to other bbq I've had. The sweet potato fries were outstanding and the house bbq sauce was awesome too. That being said, it was A-OK. I plan on going back but it didn't blow me away. Pulled Pork Sandwich - 3/5 Sweet Potato Fries - 4/5

    (3)

  • Brad P.

    Yep, vegetarian here... But really,really good.. My carnivore peeps had the sampler platter and raved about the brisket and ribs. The seitan sandwich and collards for me were excellent. Check it out and go early- they run out since they smoke meat daily and when they are out- they are out!

    (5)

  • Adam L.

    For any BBQ lover, this is the place to be. Especially if you're looking for some delicious smoked meat that is just waiting to be slabbed with your choice of BBQ, then you'll love Smoke Shack. I would highly recommend their meat platters. You get a choice of meat (which has been smoked for a designated amount of time), and a side. The meat portion is generous and does not come with any BBQ on it. Instead, they provide a variety of BBQ sauces at each table and you can pick and choose which ever one you'd like, if any. Also, the atmosphere is great! Very western-esque.

    (5)

  • Carole R.

    Stopped in for lunch based on yelp reviews. My partner was parking the car and I hobbled up to the restaurant on crutches. I missed seeing the door and I had to back track, one of the waitstaff came out and asked me if I needed any help. Although I was fine, I was impressed that they noticed me outside and offered to help. Good customer service! The interior had a "shack" vibe (rustic wood, dim lighting, blues music playing) with spacious booth and table seating. The lighting was a little TOO dim, it was hard to read the menu. We ordered the combo (pork loin, pulled chicken, sausage) with the vegetable of the day (Brussels sprouts) and a side of collard greens. The meat did not come pre-sauced so we were able to sample the different BBQ sauce options. All were good, the House sauce was our favorite. We didn't care for the sausage, but the pork loin and chicken were good. We both loved the Brussels sprouts, and I thought the collard greens were great. Overall, we were pleased with the friendly, fast, and helpful customer service and we left full and happy with our lunch choice.

    (4)

  • Walt P.

    Good bbq, especially the chicken. Brisket was fatty and otherwise boring. Seasonal veggies were brussel sprouts and were good. Would come back again though not for the brisket.

    (4)

  • Eric R.

    this was the best BBQ place I have ever been too. the food and service was excellent. I would drive all the way to Milwaukee just to eat hear. the service was excellent a s well. the only bad thing I would have to say for this place at all is it is a little over dark.

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    I really enjoyed this restaurant when I went a few weeks ago. The service was great, and the server was very helpful. Food was on the more expensive side but the portions were fair. This restaurant is rather small on the inside so do not be disappointed if you find yourself waiting for a while. Overall, I was happy to find this place in the Third Ward.

    (5)

  • Sarah W.

    The best barbecue I've had in Milwaukee by far! Delicious food, tasty drinks, friendly service, and a great ambiance! It actually feels like you're eating in a smoke shack!

    (5)

  • Charles F.

    Finally tried this place during Downtown Dining week. The special they had on for that was AMAZING. I loved the pulled pork and pulled chicken along with their selection of house made bbq sauce. The "spicy" sauce adds a nice zip. Service was pretty avg and outside the specials food here is a bit pricey. I haven't tried the outdoor area, but it looks like it might be nice weather permitting. Like most things in this area parking can be a bit of a challenge so plan ahead or be ready to hike from the public lots.

    (3)

  • Bruce K.

    This please really doesn't belong here. I mean, on a wide urban street there are brick and glass buildings next door and there's this shack. Literally, a wood shack (not as flimsy, but still!) with smoke pouring out the top of it. It's just... anachronistic. It looks out of place. But the best BBQ places are usually hole-in-the-wall spots, so let's give it a try. Just as small on the inside as it looks from the outside, there are only a handful of booths and tables, plus a bunch of seats at the bar. I opted for a bar seat and the bartender was quick to hand me a menu and said he'd be back after checking the status of the ribs. When he returned, he informed me that there were still two full racks remaining. Damn, that's just not fair. I guess now I have to have one of those racks! And with the mac & cheese. And a beer. The meal came out a few minutes later. Yes, a full rack of about 12 ribs with a good sized pot of mac & cheese (technically, the pasta wasn't macaroni but I'm not THAT much a purist). Most of the sauce had baked into the ribs and it did take a knife to slice them apart. I tried each of the table sauces with the ribs - the Carolina Gold was awful, the Kansas City and Texas were good, but the House ruled the day. I could only manage to eat half the rack, so the rest went into a box to save room for the pecan pie. I should have gone with the bartender's recommended bourbon praline cake. The pie was a bit gooey and the crust was a bit overdone. The ice cream scoop with it really helped, but I would have to say that I'd not choose this dessert again when I return. Great service, really good barbecue and a neat little spot. Having a hankering for some 'cue? Come here. #2800

    (5)

  • Kay R.

    Really cute place with a cozy ambience both inside and on their lovely outdoor patio. Both the food and drinks were amazing! Not only do they have awesome BBQ with a variety of great BBQ sauces to choose from, but everything we got, from the fried okra appetizer, to the mac and cheese side, to the pecan pie was amazing!

    (5)

  • Eric S.

    Had the three meat combo last night. Pulled pork, sausage link, and brisket. Pulled pork was dry and lacking of any flavor, Brisket was OK, decent smoke ring and flavor. Could have used some extra time on the smoker. When giving the brisket the pull test, was unable to pull it apart. Sausage link as well was OK, nothing spectacular. With the three meat combo coming in at $26, was disappointed with the amount of food. Finished the scraps on my wife's plate and still left hungry. The sides were much better than the main course. Fried Green tomato's were good, but only got 5 for $7.50. Candied Bacon and Sweet Potato Fries were good, but only got 5 pieces of bacon with far too many fries, for $8.75. Mac and Cheese with the main meal was completely flavorless. Have come to the conclusion that it is just too difficult to prepare/serve really good bbq over the course of a full day of being open for customers. Have yet to find bbq, that comes close to what I can do on my own smoker at home.

    (2)

  • Garrett R.

    My co-workers and I try to get down to the shack a few times a year, mostly for the macaroni on Fridays (ONLY available Fridays). Worth the wait every single time. Serving size will leave you in a good food coma or send you into diabetic shock. The rest of the menu is good, but the macaroni overdose cannot be beat. Did I mention the macaroni?

    (4)

  • Tina B.

    Horrible service! Brisket was good! Mac not cheesy no flavor Entree portions inadequate. Bourbon cake with whiskey ice cream was the best!!!! Great live entertainment!

    (2)

  • Jesse D.

    Let me preface this by the fact that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE ribs... I do - who doesn't? So, thinking that I could fill my fancy with RIBS - I took my entire Team there for lunch only to find that you CANNOT GET RIBS at lunch!?!? I rarely find myself in downtown Milwaukee around dinner time, so this was an unfortunate circumstance that left me a bit sour on the experience. From what we had on the menu; smoked wings, sampler platter and more... It was delicious - but I couldn't keep thinking about how wonderful their RIBS would have been... Add RIBS to the lunch menu - and you have yourself a 5-star BBQ joint.

    (4)

  • Peter K.

    Take this review with a grain of salt, considering that I went to Smoke Shack merely a week after I took a trip to Nashville, TN and Asheville, NC (two great barbecue cities). Nevertheless, I was unimpressed by Smoke Shack. While our server was friendly, our complimentary cinnamon bun was warm and delicious, and the mac and cheese was excellent, the pulled pork and chicken just lacked flavor. I don't know why a place in Nashville can leave meat in a smoker long enough to impart some smoky flavor on it and why the rubs/glazes taste better down there, but Smoke Shack's meat just didn't cut it for me. Definitely disappointing. That being said, to someone from Milwaukee who has never ventured south of the Mason Dixon Line, Smoke Shack could be great. But, if you've been to the South and had good barbecue down there, skip Smoke Shack.

    (3)

  • Sarah Z.

    Yum, Yum, Yum, Yum - big fan! The place is small, so sometimes people share tables to get everyone inside, but the pulled pork sandwich was amazing. I love that I can customize the flavor by combining my sauces at the table to get just the flavor I want. The custom cocktails were delicious as well and quite strong. I definitely want to go back when the patio is open and try more of their food.

    (5)

  • Caitlin M.

    Came in for a Bloody Mary, which was spicy and delicious...carried out a meal for 10. We sampled the pork, chicken and sausage, as well as beans, coleslaw and cornbread. It was all delicious and we had a selection of four different sauces as well. Highly recommend! Full bloody mary review at outforbloodies.com .

    (5)

  • Kyle A.

    This is THE place for me in MKE. I've had multiple things from the menu, and from the sandwiches to the special mac-n-cheese combos to their homemade corn chowder and plethora of smoked meats EVERYTHING IS DELICIOUS! Even the small stuff, like their sweet potato fries and Kansas City Eggrolls are to die for. All of that with some awesome outdoor seating in the Third Ward (or Southern Charm indoor vibe) and you've got good 'ole BBQ done the right way!

    (5)

  • Michael D.

    Weekend brunch success!! Smoke shack opened the doors, quite literally, for our group of ten. They put together an excellent short menu for brunch that follow the Milwaukee brunch high standards. Servers were great! They were friendly and patient, brought us out complimentary large cinnamon rolls for the table. The brunch was new to most of us, recommended from another happy customer. There are restaurants that are committed to service, quality and originality. Like most businesses, you must give your vote by making a purchase. I was very pleased and the group was as well.

    (4)

  • David S.

    Three Words. BBQ Egg Rolls. OMG, I still dream about these. Unreal good. I came to Milwaukee for a conference and was not expecting much in the way of good BBQ, and I felt like a hit the jackpot. Long wait times just didn't matter.... the food was worth it. I got the spare ribs and the egg rolls and they were worth every penny. The other guys from the conference with me raved about their brisket and their chili. Highly Recommended!

    (5)

  • Katie F.

    I went with a group of 4 and it was AMAZING: good food, good service, and great atmosphere. We got a sampler plate with a bunch of meats and sides. The brisket, ribs, and pulled pork were spot on, well cooked, and super flavorful. The mac and cheese, greens, and sweet potato fries were excellent, delicious additions to the meat. I wasn't a huge fan of the chicken or corn bread, but I'm really picky about my cornbread. I'm definitely going to go back next time I'm in the area.

    (4)

  • Brad S.

    While barbecue is typically associated with the South, there's nothing preventing Northerners from serving up a nice plate of 'Q. Especially if the pitmaster has a bit of culinary knowledge, because all barbecue is is the conflux of smoke, time, and meat. You can find the best examples of these in either extremely low-rent shacks or places designed to look like them. Obviously, Smoke Shack is one of the latter. I'm typically a brisket and pulled pork kind of guy, but when it comes to choosing your meat from the menu, you're left with choosing between one meat or all of them - neither of which are ideal for one dude eating lunch. I was able to talk them into seeing things my way. Yes, good barbecue shouldn't need sauce, though I would argue my brisket was still a touch too tough for my tastes. But it's also hard to forego the sauce when you're presented with some quintessential options from around the barbecue universe. The Texas and Carolina sauces were spot-on, the Kansas City sauce was BETTER than what KC could provide (because no one down there seems to understand the need to balance that sweet with something else), though my attention ultimately ended with the house sauce, an enticing combination of sweet, spicy, and savory that I spent a good half of my meal trying to figure out. Was it honey that gave it its sweetness, or just white sugar? I'll never know, and the bartenders will never tell me, because I asked. The chosen side was one of greens, and while they were certainly prepared very well, the apple cider vinegar that permeated every forkful might have been a bit much for other diners not read to tackle such pungency. I am not one of those other diners. You don't need a lot of fancy equipment nor an accent that makes people doubt your intelligence and racial acceptance to create good barbecue. Smoke Shack is putting out some real deal barbecue in the Third Ward, and it shouldn't be missed.

    (4)

  • Thomas H.

    Best place in Third Ward for hand-made Old Fashioneds

    (4)

  • Leigh A.

    This definitely does not beat Franklin BBQ in Austin, but it is much better than any other local BBQ place. The service was excellent when I was there for lunch on a Thursday around 130pm. They were out of wings, but I was there for the pulled pork and brisket. The sauce is on the side so you can taste the meat and add extra flavor as desired. The pulled pork was delicious. The Brisket was on the fatty side. I recommended that they offer it lean or fatty, like authentic southern BBQ places do. The sauces were all very good. I dont have a favorite. The greens were so good. I will definitely be going back. Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone that loves BBQ. Get there early, the place is small and the meat does run out.

    (4)

  • Andrew L.

    I can't understand the positive reviews here!! I ordered the 3 meat BBQ plate and was extremely disappointed. First the meat was over cooked and basically unseasoned. If I have to add sauce to BBQ it's bad BBQ! Second issue I have is the price. 23$ for a pound of meat is absurd. If this restaurant was anywhere other than the over-hyped third ward this meal would be ten dollars cheaper (also no buns!?!?). And my last issue is that our 3 meat combo cane in one box all mixed together. Come on.

    (3)

  • Paul M.

    Great BBQ... if you can get past your inner snob. I love this place. It's a tad pricey, but that doesn't mean it's not worth it! We walked into this place and the interior felt great. It's very southern rustic, and it doesn't feel like corporate design like some of those "other places" do it (*COUGH*FamousDave's*COUGH*). The downside, it's a small place. I can see it being difficult to accomodate large groups and handicap access. But I don't have any experience on that. I just wanted to warn you. So call ahead to get the scoop. There were two of us. It was just before dinner time, they were at about 25% capacity, and we were politely offered any available seat in the house. After seeing how small the place is, we offered to sit at the bar to leave room for the dinner crowd. We were geniunely thanked for that. We talked to the bartender and one of the cooks while we perused the menu. The cook suggested we get the 4-Meat Combo. It was a bit pricey, but could easily be split between two grown men. So that's what we did. It had Sliced Brisket, Pulled Pork, Pulled Chicken, and Homemade Sausage. While we waited, the bartender and cook we chatted with were very friendly and talkative, but they weren't obtrusive in the least. They answered all our questions and offered some suggestions besides. I don't know what to say about the taste other than: I fell in love with every piece of meat on the plate. It all had a great balance of smoke and heat. I think my favorite might have been the sausage (just because I love a great sausage). It was along the lines of Hungarian sausage, with a bit of a southern twist to it. Now, I've heard some unfavorable reviews on the food. Usually, these are prefaced with, "I've had Carolina BBQ and this place sucks." Or, "You don't know good BBQ until you've been to Kansas City." Or Memphis, or Texas, or Georgia, or [insert southern region here]. Sorry, but I just don't agree with that. One can go ahead and limit their choices if they want. But the fact is, every region has different BBQ because of different regional cuts of meats, spices, and smoking techniques. Whatever their influences, the Smoke Shack is actually smoking their meat - low and slow. Not like other places that throw some ribs in the oven, slather them up with Open Pit, and call it BBQ. Would I like some Memphis BBQ right about now? Heck yeah I would! But not because it's better... just because it's different.

    (5)

  • Marcela A.

    I wont give the last star because I couldn't try the ribs that I was dreaming about. (They only serve it after 5 pm i guess). I had the pulled pork sammie and Joe had the brisket sammie. The bbq sauces are delicious. Ah, don't forget to order your Bloody Mary. They come with roasted corn!

    (4)

  • Pat O.

    One star for good service. One star for soooo good homemade Bleu Cheese Dressing (bought a jar to take home). One star for average and kinda pricey BBQ.

    (3)

  • Kathleen R.

    I love the dirty South restaurant theme to the smoke shack. Now I recently moved from North Carolina so I will try to be open minded about this. The barbeque is pretty good, a nice change from the KC barbeque style which predominates in the midwest. They offer a nice assortment of sauces to season your food. I was disappointed with the portions and prices of our meal. A side of mac and cheese was $5 and was absolutely tiny. If you really like barbeque you might want to check it out but it is not the kind of place you want to be a regular. Not a great bang for your buck.

    (3)

  • Gregg F.

    I have to agree with every one of the negative reviews of this place. I REALLY wanted to like this place, held off going based on the reviews and finally caved in and went. The atmosphere is great, but the quality of food here needs some serious attention, or perhaps the consistency of their product is the issue. We bought 1 full slab of baby back ribs, and the combo dinner. This basically allowed my wife and I to sample everything they have to offer. I LOVE smoked meats, i smoke my own meat at home quite frequently, and I buy extremely high quality, organic meat. The claim that this restaurant buys only the best meat is probably a bit of a stretch. The ribs: Tasted like they were pre-cooked and thrown on the smoker to serve. The meat was dry, and the meat flavor clearly indicated that I got meat that was old and should have been discarded. No way I could eat these without sauce. The brisket: Not very tender, probably not cooked long enough at low enough temperature.. Sausage: Good, not great. Pulled pork: Had better at famous daves. Pulled chicken: Just average. This chef needs to learn about flavorful dry rubs. I've had better BBQ at franchise restaurants down south at half the price. Even Famous Daves beats the food i was served. Lastly, the drink choices are bourbon and beer. My wife is a little classier than that and there was nothing in the cocktail list for a lady. The place at a minimum could offer a mikes hard lemonade or wine cooler. Perhaps expand out a tad and offer some wine. Sorry, but this restaurant seriously needs to work on the quality of their food for these prices. *edited* Since I don't know how this restaurant actually prepares their food I will limit my comments to being my personal opinion on preparation. However... Locally sourced means nothing with regards to quality. I can name two places that give the impression of top quality meat, and though they are locally raised their quality can be surpassed at any grocery chain. Quality meat has excellent grain from a good degree of fat, which will enable the meat to stay juicy when smoked long periods. This type of quality was clearly not present in the product I was served. $125 for two people, the dinner presented as ours was, is simply not acceptable.

    (2)

  • Melinda A.

    Ordered -Pulled chicken: delicious -Pulled pork: extra delicious -Mac n cheese: good, wasn't preferred style (no cheddar taste_ -Cornbread: bad, cold and tasted out of the box -BBQ sauces: all are on the table and pretty standard, good but nothing special Staff -Normal, friendly Atmosphere -Very casual, home-y -We lucked out to get a table but seating is very limited Would I go again? Yes, to get good meat/bbq fix but likely not on the regular

    (4)

  • Mark P.

    This place is arguably one of the top BBQ restaurants in Milwaukee. The food, service and atmosphere is good, but not great! My only complaint about the place is the food value, or the lack there of. The portions are small and the prices are a little high. Even with that, this place is good place to eat, but expect to shell out a lot of "dough" if you are expecting to satisfy your hunger.

    (3)

  • Liz A.

    I have been to the Smoke Shack on 2 occasions. I have enjoyed the food, atmosphere and the service. I do think they need to add some zippy flavors to the coleslaw and put a scoop of it on the plate instead of putting it in a metal cup the size of a shot glass... :)

    (4)

  • Jason K.

    DON'T TOUCH MY FOOD! HOWEVER......This is exactly what the manager of the restaurant did when we made a comment about the freshness of the buns used for the BBQ brisket and Pulled Pork sandwich. After commenting to the server that the buns didn't seem fresh and were falling apart, the server very politely asked if we wanted to have the kitchen remake the sandwich. Our answer....no thank you we'll work around it. However, we asked that she please relay the message to the kitchen. Within a minute, a very unfriendly manager walked up to the table, asked about the problem and then grabbed the plate of food from my mother and stuck his fingers on the bun to check for freshness. Without asking how we'd like the situation handled he quickly took the plate of food away and said they would make another. We never asked for new food and we certainly didn't invite the manager to take the plate and touch the food. Our general impression was he either didn't believe us or was irritated that we commented on its freshness. Moments later the manager came over and said he was sorry for the inconvenience. We attempted to discuss his handling of the situation however, his only response was, well we are making you another one. Wrong answer buddy. At least give the guest the option of asking for new food before you assume that's what will satisfy them. He just didn't get it. If the manager had approached the problem with the same concern as the server, there would have been no issue. Bottom line....I can't recommend this restaurant. The overall experience was not good. The BBQ was average and the pricing seems expensive. 2 sandwiches with 1 side each and 2 glasses of water would have been $26.

    (1)

  • Matthew O.

    So, I am a 13 year old boy, with a peanut allergy, and have a brother with a milk, wheat, and egg allergy. We went here with our dad for dinner a bit ago. This place is amazing. I can say that right away. It is great with allergies, the food is some of the best barbecue in Milwaukee. The only problem is the place is tiny. Overall this place is a great place to eat if you get there around 4:30. (because than you wouldn't have too wait) They have amazing barbecue at a decent price.

    (5)

  • James F.

    For Northern BBQ, it was fantastic. By Texas standards the brisket is not very good. The pulled pork is fantastic though. I also had the candied bacon which was wonderful. I am very impressed with the selection of drinks and cocktails.

    (3)

  • Shane K.

    A colleague and I visited on a recent business trip and picked this place off of Yelp. I've lived down south for a significant portion of my life and I know BBQ. It was late and I didn't want to eat too heavy so I ordered a pork loin sandwich which came with sweet potato fries. I also ordered a local IPA. The sandwich was quite good; just large enough and cooked perfectly. They have a choice of sauces on the table that represent all the major players: Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Memphis. I tried them all but pretty much stuck with the Texas which had decent heat to it. The sweet potato fries were excellent. One thing that bothered me was that they only have beer in bottles. In Milwaukee, really? This is supposed to be a beer town and that means draft. Not a deal breaker but something they need to deal with. Decor is great, staff was friendly and attentive, restrooms clean. Like.

    (4)

  • Kimberly J.

    Double update. I've been back two more times and asked the server super nicely to skip the bark. Which I'm personally not a fan of.... If the owner hadn't written me personally and explained what is was, I would have seriously thought ( as previously written in my last review) it was grizzle. I still think servers should explain about the bark. It's a definite acquired taste and the average consumer might not know that it's a delicacy... And they might want to opt out. Like me. Ok.. I had the kansas city egg rolls. Holy EFF are they good. I split them with my friend. They were magical. Smoke shack will, I repeat, will run out of a whole bunch of items. Ie:ribs, short ribs, chicken wings. And my personal favorite. Pecan pie. This saddens me. But I can deal. Redemption smoke shack.. Back up to 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Eric B.

    Came to this place upon recommendation from some true BBQ lovers and was not disappointed. I wanted to know where the best BBQ could be had in the milwaukee area and this is where I was told to go. First off the place is a shack (literally) but it's small size has big taste. Got there about 7 pm. Our waitress immediately asked me if I was there for ribs and made sure the last rack was saved for me! The smoked sausage was a bit spicy. Wow! The Berkshire pork melted in your mouth. The whiskey ice cream with the pecan pie was insane! Ribs had a bit more of a tug than I prefer, but good flavor. The sides were good as well, coleslaw made with red cabbage, was a bit skeptical at first, but was creamy and delish. Overall not bad for wisconsin que. Wish it were closer.

    (4)

  • Katie B.

    I realize that Famous Dave's is now a nationwide chain, but if you've ever been to the originals in Minnesota, Smoke Shack = Famous Dave's cooler, sexier older brother. I first visited the Smoke Shack following a late this winter. It was right after a brewery tour at Milwaukee Brewing Company so if you've ever taken the tour, you know what condition I was in. I loved everything about this place. I love the blues music. I love that it is small and has that great laid back character that really let's you just sink in an enjoy the food. I love that all of their signature drinks have whiskey. Their mac and cheese is some of the best in the city. And of course, it's all about the ribs there and they won't disappoint. I am also happy to report that I returned a second (sober) time and loved the place just as much. (And can also add that the pulled pork nacho appetizer is monstrous and perfect for a group appetizer.) Yes, there are only 47 seats. Yes, you will have to get there early because they sell out of their best items. I'm telling you, this place is worth planning ahead for.

    (5)

  • Ashley J.

    It would be a 5 star review, but since they don't take reservations it's difficult to plan for groups. I took my family here (all 6 of us!) and had an hour wait at 7; however, the wait is worth it! The BBQ was great (so many choices) and the mac and cheese was delicious! It's difficult to please my entire family, but everyone was satisfied here. It's been a few months since we went and they're still talking about this place!

    (4)

  • Craig M.

    "A Non-Starter" If there's one area where the ball often gets dropped at restaurants, it's proper seating and transitioning of customers to wait staff. My wife and I stopped in for an anticipated bite on 8/30/14, and checked in with the hostess. We requested an outside table; more than half the tables outside were empty. The hostess asked for our cell and told us we'd get a text when our table was ready, which seemed odd since the place is small and we just grabbed a drink from the inside bar and waited outside on the restaurant bench seats. After 20 minutes, we got our text, walked ten feet to the door, and went inside to check back in, only to have the hostess ask the couple who got there just ahead of us if they were "Yvonne"; we were Yvonne. So, when the couple ahead of us corrected her, she gave away our table to them. When we checked in, she asked us to wait, until, 5 minutes later and getting tired of standing there, we told her we'd be outside again. Five minutes after that, she told us to get a table outside (with still a third of them empty) it'd be another half hour! We left. I've been wanting to try this place for a while, and own a nearby business, from which we often use the local restaurants for lunch for our staff and clients. I'll be hard-pressed to give this place another chance.

    (1)

  • Marcus P.

    Went for lunch today, which I'm told is smart because it tends to be popular. I went with the brisket entree with the "new" cornbread fried okra. The Mrs. had the pulled pork sandwhich with the chips. For the app, we opted for the candied bacon which also came with some sweet potato fries. Bacon was tasty and interesting. My mind made it unbeatable, but in reality it wasn't half bad. Fries were very good, and despite the craze for them all over the place, these were some of the best I've had. Pulled pork sandwhich was delicious and had an excellent smoked flavor. Very healthy serving, and with your choice of sauce, I don't see how this can't be a fan favorite. Chips were fantastic, but they put some kind of slaw on the plate as well which almost made me forget how great everything else was. The brisket was smoked nicely, but I wish that there was more of a flavor from the rub they used. I normally won't use any sauce when I come across killer brisket, but I opted for theirs in this case. Loved the Texas and House with a pinch of the 24 Habanero sauce to keep it interesting. I don't know how new of a menu item the okra is, but it was delightful. The cornbread "breading" was perfect, and made us both wonder how many other things we could fry it in if given the opportunity. On the subject of cornbread, my entree came with a piece that almost made me cry how great it was. We were very happy with our time here today, and will definitely make a trip back at some point. I'd like to try the ribs to get the full spectrum of their eats, but they aren't available until after 4pm. I don't know if that was just for today, or if that's how they roll.

    (4)

  • Ricardo D.

    The brisket sandwich was just great, the place has personality and the music was just perfect, the service was great too, the corn bread was a little generic, but overall a cool place

    (4)

  • Megan M.

    This was so good! The meat was just perfect and we came late and were still treated to friendly, attentive service. It's small but I loved my chicken and the variety of BBQ sauces.

    (4)

  • Kevin R.

    It doesn't look like much from the outside, but that is by design. However, I would say that it is one of the best BBQ's in Milwaukee. That is not saying much, but for when you want BBQ, it will definitely fit the bill. I suppose I am spoiled because I regularly travel to Kansas City and Texas, so I can easily have world class BBQ on a frequent basis. Smoke shack is not in the same level there, but again in comparison with the rest of Milwaukee, it is a good choice for your BBQ fix. I've read some of the negative reviews and honestly, I have not experienced any of that. The service has been good, the food has been decent, and the atmosphere was good. My knock here is that they are a bit pricey for what it is, but not outrageous. It is also not fair to compare price here with Kansas City BBQ, simply becasue of the amount of competition in KC. You can't throw a stone without hitting a BBQ joint in KC! I think one of their best items on their menu is the corn chowder. I have mainly stuck to pulled pork, salads, sides, and the chowder for all of my visits, and I haven't wanted anything else.

    (4)

  • Carl H.

    Excellent food and drink selection! The BBQ sampler is just enough for 3 people and the overall atmosphere is fantastic.

    (5)

  • Chief P.

    Love the place... The atmosphere... Good BBQ...Good Sweet Ice Tea!!! The only reason I only gave 4 stars is because I grew up in North Carolina. I would have to say, in Milwaukee, beside Speed Queen this is a good place to pig out. I got the Pulled Pork Nachos...HUGE! probably about 1/2 pound of meat on it...

    (4)

  • Katie F.

    I am generally not a huge BBQ fan, so I came into Smoke Shack a little leary about what to order. My first trip was for lunch so I decided to keep it light, so I went for the Kansas city egg rolls and a coke, and I had to try the whiskey ice cream; ice cream has never tasted so good. It was the perfect amount of food for lunch, the egg rolls were delish and I got to try out the four homemade sauces, Kansas City, Texas BBQ, House BBQ and Carolina Gold, while its hard to pick a favorite I have to say I love the Kansas City. I loved that my coke came in a mason jar, and the whiskey ice cream... TO DIE FOR. On my second visit I came in the evening with meat loving friends so I went with the pulled pork, omg so good, and on the pork it was a toss up between the house BBQ and the Texas BBQ. Oh and we started out with Candied bacon, two orders, mmmmm you can never go wrong with bacon and this is delectible. And for drinks, I tried the Jack n Jill, again love the mason jars, these were too good, I had to have a couple. Dessert..I don't usually order dessert but our server talked us into trying the Bourbon Praline cake... um yeah next time I am starting with that, melt in your mouth delicious. Overall a great experience, I am a new BBQ convert and can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Colleen W.

    Being the self-proclaimed "Condimenteer" that I am, Smoke Shack speaks my language, especially since one of my all-time top favorite condiments is bbq sauce and they offer several. But I'm getting ahead of myself...let's talk about the meat, after all, that's what this place is all about. I've had the the pulled pork and the brisket sloppy joe. While the pulled pork is delicious enough on it's own (moist, flavorful, and a heaping pile to feed me for days!), adding the "House" sauce and cole slaw (on a bun) pulls the whole thing together. What impressed my by the Brisket Sloppy Joe, beside the fact that it was also delicious, was that the Chef wasn't happy with the first plate he made for me, so he threw together a brand new batch o'joes for me. Yes, I had to wait a few minutes longer, but it was worth it, and he was pretty snappy. I appreciated that. Now the bbq sauces, all delicious...you get the vinegar-y based ones, the sweeter, the spicier...and of course, you can always mix them altogether. And if you somehow have enough room for dessert after your heaping plate of delicious meats (and multitude of sides), then go for the Bacon Brownie. Yes, there's even meat in the desserts, and for good reason. The boozie Whiskey Ice Cream combined with the salt of the bacon and richness of the brownie...mouth watering. Their friendly service and great decor were just icing on the cake (or pecan pie in this instance.)

    (4)

  • Bryce M.

    Cool little themed place. Good for hanging out with friends or a casual night out. Food: Pulled Pork was delicious. Pulled Chicken was nearly as good. Mac and Cheese was good but not great. Cornbread was dry Service: Average Would I Come Back? I would come back if i was in MKE and had a craving for BBQ, but would nto be a regular. NOTE: seating is communal style, so if you go during dinner rush expect to be brushing elbows with strangers. NOTE: They sell out of their ribs during the dinner rush most nights, so get there early if you want some.

    (3)

  • Dennis M.

    Great little casual hip place. Had to wait about an hour to get our table for four but well worth the wait. It was a nice evening so we hung out on the patio for a couple of tall boy domestic beers and cocktaisl. We were having so much fun when I got a text our table was ready and waiting. Cool, never got a text before letting me know my table was ready. We had a great waiter, Eric. He suggested the sampler platter for four and what a great choice it was. Too bad they had run out of the ribs as we were really looking forward to trying them but everything else was just incredible edible smokey juicy meats and the best corn bread and slaw. Can't wait to go back and will soon but there are so many great restaurants in the Third Ward to try.

    (4)

  • Cole W.

    The food here is quality and has a good, deep flavor... But 1) they run out of ribs way too early. 2) I've never actually had a hot meal here, everything comes out lukewarm 3) the menu is really limited and really only the baby back ribs and short ribs are worth having. Go here early and get the ribs, otherwise skip it.

    (3)

  • robert k.

    Great atmosphere, love the pulled pork and being able to pick the sauce

    (5)

  • evan c.

    Went here today for lunch and had a beer and the combination plate which consisted of house made sausage, sliced brisket, pulled pork and pulled chicken ( a new one on me..been eating Q for 50+ years) and sides of cornbread and greens. Everything was well cooked as opposed to a couple other DREADFUL bbq places I have reviewed. If I have a gripe it's that the meats could be seasoned a little more to make them more complex. Except for the sausage, the meats had a narrow flavor profile which required saucing. When I checked their online menu, my first thought was that the prices were steep for barbecue but they actually give you a lot of food so my first impression was wrong. It's a comfortable, enjoyable spot and should be lots of fun in warm weather when they get their patio going..I'll go back soon..

    (4)

  • Laura B.

    I've had BBQ all over from Memphis to Kansas City and I was pleasantly surprised at how good everything tasted. The chicken and brisket were great but I wasn't a big fan of the pork. The Mac and cheese was good and their chips tasted homemade. I thought it was a good value for the amount of food I was served, the bourbon on the other hand seemed overpriced. I will come back sometime when I'm in the city and can get in. I would give this place 5 stars maybe if they served fried pickles.

    (4)

  • Sepehr S.

    Menu was outstanding with tons of unique BBQ choices. The egg-roll appetizers are def a must have. The atmosphere was comfortable but the bar area isn't very big. That being said, they service was simply perfect. The bartender went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed and to thank us for our business. Definitely coming back!

    (4)

  • David P.

    I visited on a Friday at 6:30 with a party of four, was quoted 30 minutes for a table and got one at about 45. Not too bad for a new place. The service was good, our waiter checked in on us several times. The food came out very quickly and the quality was overall above average. I had the brisket sandwich which I smothered in their House sauce, sweet potato fries, and a side of greens. I really enjoyed the greens as they weren't greasy, just jam-packed full of flavor. $13.75 for a sandwich is a bit high but I did leave stuffed.

    (3)

  • Danielle B.

    Love this place! The decor, the music, the service... the FOOD. Everything was excellent! I'm excited to have a barbecue place doing it right in Milwaukee. I'd go back right now. As a vegetarian, I was super excited to see not one boring mushroom choice, but two separate vegetarian entree options! Although the BBQ seitan sandwich sounded scrumptious, I couldn't decide which side I wanted with it, so on my first visit I ordered all sides. Mac & cheese is really good and not too cheesy; perfectly complimented by the Kansas City BBQ sauce. Greens are super tender and have a nice, bright acidity. Also loved the poblano corn chowder, but wish I could have gotten just a cup; there's only one size option. Our group ordered the pulled pork nachos as an appetizer and they were awesome. They do NOT skimp on the pork - we actually ran out of chips! Husband got the old fashioned and deemed it goooood (said in a real deep voice). Dining pals also tried the ribs, brisket & pulled pork as entrees. All rave reviews. the baked sweet potato side was probably the least popular item ordered, so maybe go for the fries instead - you can DIP them! Have I mentioned the dipping? Favorite part: 5 sauces available at the table. All were really good and quite different from one another. It was fun to mix & match and try a li'l sauce with everything! Luckily some free wet-naps arrived with our bill. Highly recommended. Our visitors from out of state thoroughly enjoyed their experience and couldn't get over how cool the place looked and the fantastic blues music that complimented our entire experience.

    (5)

  • Hope F.

    We loved our dinner at the Smoke Shack - half slab of ribs with sweet potato fries was great. The ribs had almost no fat on them and were tender and the meat fell off the bone. Fries were hot, crisp and thin - perfect! My husband's Angus brisket was very tender - almost melt in your mouth. He had the kettle chips as a side and they were perfect - not break your teeth deep fried hard. They were crisp and then slightly chewy. I liked that the meats had no sauce on them so you could try the 4 or 5 different sauces at the table as you wish. The place is small and filled up quickly for a weeknight in Feb when it was 0 degrees outside. We will be back in summer when we can eat outside!

    (4)

  • Jim V.

    Simply Amazing... We've been there twice now, and the food is to die for. The Texas BBQ sauce on the brisket is my fav, while my wife prefers the pulled pork.

    (5)

  • Bob J.

    Fabulous barbeque. We stopped here on our way back to Chicago from the Harley Davidson Museum.... great food, super bib...... ate so much could hardly move.

    (5)

  • Kelley S.

    Went here on our day in town. Parking was easy, place looked small, but plenty of tables inside and out despite quite a few people dining. We ordered the pork nachos only because they walked by as we were looking at the menu and they looked fabulous.... and boy were they. They are like $9, but with a whole darn pile of pork on there they are well worth it... you could easily order this as your meal and be the envy of the table. Then we got our meal. I didn't want more pork so I got the portabella sandwich and our other order was the brisket sloppy joe since they were out of the pork loin. We for both with the sweet potato fries. I thought the mushroom was alright, probably not what I should have ordered at a bbq place so partly my fault... tasty, but nachos were way better. The brisket was tasty, not our favorite, but good. Better off the bun actually. The buns and fries were my least favorite part. The bun just seemed too big and somewhat dry. The fries were alright, but mushy, probably should have gotten the chips. The different sauces on the table were all quite good. I had my two favorites, but the fun is trying them all so you can find yours. I would go back here. Nice clean place, attentive staff, good food, great ambiance. The bathroom was even spotless.

    (4)

  • Zak R.

    This place kills it for a local BBQ spot in MKE. Plus the service was great. Stop in and say hi to Lydia. First time here tonight and the waitress recommended the pork lion and was she right. This goes great with all the different BBQ sauce options Having set this dinner up to catch up w old friends, we sure had fun trying all the sauces. The hot has a kick. I recommend getting a combo so you can try two different meats. Plus a side. Can't go Wrong w Mac and cheese but seasonal veggies were great. Start w corn bread and a beer.

    (4)

  • Dan H.

    I am a fairly new resident in Milwaukee and I am always looking for new restaurants to try. I lived in Denver for 5 years and there are many creative, exciting, and new places to try. Smoke Shack hits that for me in Milwaukee. I feel like other restaurants in Milwaukee try to fit the typical Milwaukee/Midwestern stereotype, such as big portions, Midwestern flavors, and not going as traditional as I believe they should. Smoke Shack is so unique for the area, I love how small it is. I don't care that it gets busy and you have to wait. It's worth it and makes the ambiance special. The busy vibe and the decor is perfect. I have been to Smoke Shack twice with my girlfriend and we can't get enough. I have had ribs both times, first time I had the St Louis style which were on special and they were phenomenal. I chose sweet potato fries as my side, kind of a lame choice for a bbq restaurant but they were good. My girlfriend had the pulled pork with a side of the vinegar cole slaw. I would have to say, if there was one downfall, it would be the cole slaw. It seems to me that red cabbage is put into a food processor, pulverized almost to the point of a puree then mixed with vinegar. The second time we tried it again, this time creamy and it seemed to be prepared the same way...just substituting mayo for vinegar. Second time I had the spare ribs and they were also delicious and my girlfriend had the 2 meat combo, pulled pork and brisket. Pretty fantastic, although I think the brisket could use more of a bark to it and a little more fat. We also had the chicken wings and they were fantastic. Simple, yet they had a great smoke flavor. Will definitely order them again. On another note, I do think if you are ordering a platter or ribs you should be given your choice of side and a serving of corn bread. I have been to many bbq restaurants around the country and either you get white bread or corn bread along with your side. Just food for thought. Also, my apologies for my harsh critique on the cole slaw, but I really think it could use some improvement. Add some more crunch...carrots, onion, or something with some texture and flavor. See you soon Smoke Shack!

    (5)

  • Chris T.

    Was really looking forward to eating here, but it didn't live up to the hype. While the house sauce was nice and the meat was very tender, the meat was pretty bland on it's own. No smokiness or salt for my pork or brisket. Made me wonder if it had been smoked, because it obviously tasted like it wasn't seasoned very much. A little rub would have helped a lot. Too expensive for what I had gotten and the beans were only spicy and not sweet as the menu indicated. I'm still searching for good BBQ in MKE as a result.

    (2)

  • Caroline P.

    My Blues name is Sticky Bradley and veggie hubbie is Pretty Boy Hopkins. And that's just the start. They don't take reservations and they run out of food, which some might view as a problem. I wouldn't show up on a Friday night, but we went on a Saturday afternoon and got seated right away. They were out of ribs, but I did just fine with a pulled pork and brisket combo. We were here just in time for brunch, so the vegetarian among us got seitan biscuits and gravy. Only in Milwaukee can you go to a barbecue joint and get vegan food.

    (4)

  • Catherine G.

    Smoke Shack is hands down one of my favorite restaurant in Milwaukee!!! Love the ambiance, the French tea towel napkins, mason jars, the lighting, and just the overall rustic vibe. By far, my favorite items on their menu include the baby back ribs and the large beef ribs. Mouthwatering, juicy, fall off the bone ribs - I wish I can eat here every night. I also love the corn bread and the beignets. Caution the baby back ribs sell out first so if you plan on ordering that, make sure you arrive before 6:30PM. I always order extra ribs so I can have left overs at home. It's fun to try out the different BBQ sauces they have laid out on the table. Don't forget to squirt your favorite BBQ sauce on top of the ribs before you take them home.

    (5)

  • Ashley K.

    Enjoyed some delightful bbq, mac n cheese, and Sprecher root beers on the patio this afternoon - a great way to close out a holiday weekend. The house-made sauces are solid, as are the melt-in-your-mouth meats. Yum!

    (5)

  • Alicia C.

    This place is soooo good!!! My second time coming here and the food is still as good as the first! First time we got the pulled pork nachos and the smoke shack sampler-delicious!!!! This time I got the wings, equally awesome!

    (5)

  • Sherri K.

    All sorts of good food. Babyback is the best word on the menu. They also have a sausage platter that looked insanely delicious. All the sides were noteworthy. Greens! Mac & cheese! I also had a stuffed poblano which was so tasty I wish there was a platter I could have eaten and made a meal of it. All the sauces are on the table so you can sample which ones you'd like on your meat. KC vs Texas was my personal tasting competition. Everything was good and I can't wait to get back.

    (4)

  • AJ T.

    I actually didn't care for any of the sauces they had to offer. They were all just mediocre. I know some reviewers rave about the sauces, but I found them to be just... not good. lol Yeah. A plain not that great. That being said, we ordered the 4-meat combo (which comes with 1 square of cornbread and a choice of side -- we settled on mac & cheese on the recommendation of yelpers). I also sampled the corn chowder which was okay. No big complaints, but the sample of it didn't compel me to actually order it. All of the meat, except the sausage, which I just wasn't a huge fan of, was moist and tender... The beef & pulled pork ar the best in my opinion. So that part of the meal was good (not great, but definitely good), but the meat tastes like there's no salt in it so that it's a blank canvas for your sauce of choice. Unfortunately, I felt like the lack of seasoning in the meat made everything taste slightly under seasoned. Which was a serious contrast to the saltiest mac and cheese I have ever had the (dis)pleasure of eating. It was so salty that I nearly spit it out. Granted, I suppose paired with the under-seasoned meat, you almost have a balanced and well-seasoned bite. I couldn't take the saltiness and needed to eat something other than just meat, so we ended up ordering sweet potato frieds, which were quite good. We were also curious about the rib tips, but they were out by the time we got to the restaurant (around 7:30). Our server was average, but the GM came around to chat, and actually comped our sweet potato fries and dessert (we settled on the bourbon praline cake) to make up for the extreme saltiness of the mac & cheese. The praline cake was nice; it has an interesting texture -- a bit mealy like corn bread and very gritty with bits of sugar throughout -- and a nice if strong bourbon flavor on the caramel sauce. I wish it would have been served warm (and maybe with ice cream, but that might be asking too much). Also, if you like iced tea, definitely give the sweet tea a shot. It is very sweet, but I loved it. Also as other yelpers have mentioned, you'll more than likely be seated with people you don't know. Depending on who you are, this may or may not be a good thing. I'm glad I tried this spot, but I doubt I'll be back. I was debating between 2 and 3 stars (this is more of a 2.5 star joint for me), but went with 3 stars since the GM went out of his way to make sure we walked away satisfied customers.

    (3)

  • Todd O.

    So, I was in Milwaukee on a business trip and did a quick search on Google to find nearby BBQ spots (I was really craving BBQ). I found Smoke Shack and read a handful of the rave reviews on Yelp so figured I better try it... Meh. I wish I hadn't. I called and mentioned that I was visiting Milwaukee and craving a BBQ sandwich...the "phone answerer" recommended the brisket sammich with sweet potato fries and the pecan pie. Cool. I picked it up, got back to the hotel eager to try it...and realized the BBQ sandwich was missing BBQ sauce and they didn't put any "to go" in my bag. How was I supposed to know they serve their meat dry? Well, even if I had BBQ sauce, there was still way too much bread and way too little meat...maybe 4-5 slices of brisket hidden by a huge, thick bun. Oh...and no damn BBQ sauce. BBQ joint fail. The sweet potato fries were delicious. I ended up throwing out the bun and eating the 4 slices of brisket, so I'm glad I got the pecan pie. Which, for the record, wasn't scream-from-the-rooftop-great...it was decent. All in all, this meal was WAY overpriced...I spent $23 and got 4-5 slices of meat, sweet potato fries and a little pecan pie. Skip it.

    (2)

  • Douglas W.

    Broke my rule about eating BBQ outside the areas of the country where they know how to make this food. I guess I am ever hopeful but alas was crushed again tonight at the Smoke Shack. I gave them a generous 3 stars because I really liked the place and the service but they missed all over the place from the sauces to the meat and the sides. They go out of their way to buy quality hormone and antibiotic free proteins and then serve them so that you can't taste the quality anymore. The rib rub is heavy and the ribs tough and without meat on the bones. They need a better cut with a little more fat and definitely more meat. I ordered the spare ribs. The rub is spicy and BBQ isn't spicy hot. They have a hot sauce on the table if you have to have your food hot you should be able to add it yourself. Why don't you just put ketchup on your hot dog too! Would you put ketchup on your Bratwurst? Huh, would you? Would you sprinkle it with cayenne and chili powder? That's what I thought. They tell you on the menu that the food isn't sauced so that you can choose and opt in and out yourself but then they dump a load of spices on their arid dry pulled pork before you can do anything about it. You know what, I am going to lower this to 2 stars as I write this because I am just irritated at this point. The sausage was juicy and moist (the only thing that was) but was way too heavily spiced and hot hot again unnecessarily hot. They even seasoned the greens. Just smoke them, put some vinegar on them and let it go. Same with the beans, way too much and way too spicy. Can you possibly serve me a side that tastes like the actual ingredient. Let the ingredients speak a little and don't try so hard. The vinegar slaw was their regular creamy slaw with a bunch of seasoning and vinegar dumped in it if you can believe this. Ground too fine we complained about it and that's when our terrific server brought us the beans. The chicken was fine, pulled and not as dry as the pork which was terrible. The sauces were a little complicated and none really made me happy. I liked the KC ok but the rest missed for me. The house was pretty good with the chicken. None of them go with their over seasoned ribs but who could taste them past the rub? The Carolina shouldn't be served by anyone who hasn't been there or who can't replicate these terrific mustard sauces. This one had little resemblance to the standard. We were there at 5:15 just 15 minutes after we were told everything comes off the smoker so it wasn't that it wasn't fresh. This is just the way it is and just the way folks around here must like it based on the reviews. It's a really cool place and I think they should continue to enjoy it without me.

    (2)

  • Nicole A.

    I am on the hunt for the best barbecue in Wisconsin. I was excited to try the Smoke Shack based on the atmosphere. I like that they have some gluten-free choices. I dove right in and ordered the ribs, with a side of cornbread. I found the sauces to be tasty but sadly I found the meat to be dry, and lacking in the amount of meat on the bone. Eating the ribs was more like scraping the bone to get some tasty morsels. The cornbread was so-so. Note that my comparison radar is high. I'm comparing barbecue against Memphis, Texas, and Nashville barbecue. I would say that the smoke shack currently rates about number five against the current barbecue places in Milwaukee.

    (2)

  • Katie S.

    Hello smoky friend. I've partaken of the Smoke Shack a number of times so far. Every time I go, I immediately want to take a nap, and I mean that in a good way. Let's start with atmosphere: Hokey dirty south. The patio is nice, but they do seat community style, so either bring a group or plan to make friends. Timing: Depending on when you go, you may have a timing obstacle. Since may of their meats smoke for hours (like 13), they put them in and try to time them to 11:30am and 4pm, I believe. If you get there too early, you have to wait for the meat. If you get there too late, they run out. Also, it's a relatively small place, so if you go right at dinner time on a lovely summer evening, you're going to wait to get a table. It's a tricky game, but it's pretty much worth it. Apps: The kettle chips are stellar. The sweet potato fries are yummy. The candied bacon sounds like it should be awesome but I'm not drooling about it. Food: Step right up, Pick your meat pile! Actually, I hear the portabella sandwich is pretty good, too, but I can't speak from experience on that one. The pulled chicken and pulled pork are both fantastic. The half chicken is good, but it requires too much effort compared to the pulled chicken. The brisket is good (and that's a big compliment from me...brisket makes me bristle). The baby back ribs were...not great. Sauces: This is a key part of the experience. Normally, when I take Smoke Shack Virgins, I use the side plate and make a sauce sampler for everyone to taste while waiting for the food. I like the Texas and Kansas City the best, sometimes even together if I'm feeling wacky! Sides: I know this review should be about the meat...and I should want to go for the meat....but the sides really make it for me. It's like having a great purse and great shoes to go with my great outfit. You need the purse and the shoes to really pull it off. Anyway....The cornbread is tasty. The fried corn is pretty good. The coleslaw was ok. The mac & cheese! The mac & cheese! The mac & cheese! It's tasty. Dessert: ppppffffffttttt, like you have room for dessert. All around pretty tasty.

    (5)

  • Jen Y.

    My husband loves this place... meat is naked and several sauces adorn the table. I finally agreed to join him here and was shocked at all the great veg options!! Seitan BBQ sandwhich is super good... I love to add a little Kentucky Gold from the table. Chips are great, deep fried corn on the cob even better! Cole slaw is so-so. My husband loves the platter and has plenty leftovers to enjoy for a few days. Husband's favorite is also the bacon brownie with the whiskey ice cream. I tried a seasonal fruit cobbler and it was not as good, rhubarb pieces so giant they didn't cook down next to smaller pieces that did... sad. So I skip dessert and keep on drinking... Handcrafted cocktails are great, served in cute mason jars. Love the shacky feel to the place!

    (4)

  • Kurls T.

    BBQ Heaven!!! Great food & awesome service. Meat that's cooked to perfection...melts in your mouth.

    (5)

  • Britt C.

    Considering I'm not really a BBQ kinda gal, this place was pretty good. Of course, only I could manage to drive up to Wisconsin without my I.D. or debit card (thank god I was visiting my sister or I would have been S.O.L.) So, unfortunately no drinks for me. They did have some that looked pretty good too. I wasn't super hungry so I ordered the pulled pork eggrolls, which were really good. If I had more of an appetite I probably would have gone with the brisket sandwich. Quite a few sauces are at the table, but my food came with sauce already on so I decided not to get too crafty, but I wouldn't mind trying them if I went back sometime. Cool fact: they tore down an old barn to get the wood that is on the outside of the restaurant. Super cute.

    (3)

  • Jennifer W.

    I went here for brunch today and it was nice to have a different alternative for a brunch outing. Don't get me wrong, the place is small and we were lucky with our timing to get a table. That being said, the ambiance is fun and very different. All of the tables are high top with stools that don't have a back. So, it isn't really a place where you are going to lounge for a long time, but I think that may be their point. My friend and I enjoyed a few of the key items. I had the burnt ends eggs benedict, and it was delicious. I didn't care much for the rosemary potatoes, but I am not big on potatoes to begin with. My friend had the pulled pork eggs benedict and he said it was great as well. Just to make sure we didn't miss an opportunity to overindulge, my friend also ordered a side of sweet potato pancakes which were also tasty. All in all, I'm a fan and I'd love to stop back in the summertime for some patio 'cue. Yummers.

    (4)

  • Gabrielle K.

    The brisket is tasty, the cocktails well made, and the fries are like, super delicious and perfectly crispy/soft. One really weird thing is that none of the sauces are actually spicy. In fact, one of them is mustard. They could do a little bit of risk-taking with this, I know Milwaukee palates are a little bland [hey, I'm a native, I get it], but a little heat with your meat is sweet. . .

    (3)

  • Joe R.

    Super tasty and great atmosphere. Pulled pork, brisket and house sausage with 3 cheese mac accompanied by Kentucky Koolade and whiskey ice cream. The only problem is that it's located in Milwaukee and not Michigan.

    (4)

  • Andy K.

    Awesome looking building. Definitely went with the rustic look. Had the pulled pork. Was really good and tender. Had beans as a side. They were alright. Will be going back again, that is for sure.

    (4)

  • Angela S.

    OMG!!!! The candied baccon, mac and cheese, sweet potatoe fries, corn bread, the brisket, and the chocolate brownie with bacon are outstanding.Can't wait to try other menu items.

    (5)

  • Christopher H.

    We went on a Saturday night. It was late so I was hopeful that the dinner rush might have ended. I guess I should have know better. However while we were standing by the door waiting, frequently checking for updates on the website that showed how many were in front of us the hostess came up to me and asked if we wanted to dine at the bar as two people where getting ready to leave. I said "You bet" and we quickly swooped in and made ourselves comfortable. Even though we were right in front of the bartender who was serving our area of the bar he somehow missed us for a while. So we waited until he came over apologizing for missing us and quickly trying to help us out. The food: My wife ordered the Pulled Pork Nachos. I ordered the Beef Brisket sandwich with fries. Both were excellent. They even asked me if I liked my brisket fatty or lean. I tried a sample of all of the bbq sauces and liked them all. Loved one! Her nachos had a sizable bone at the bottom which I mistakenly shoveled in my mouth thinking it was a lump of pork. Not a good moment but it was dark and I imagine that bbq joints lose track of bones all the time. So no deduction of stars. Mostly because it was a great date in a comfortable place. We will be back soon.

    (5)

  • Dan S.

    Awesome setting in a business area of downtown. Whisky drinks are awesome and smoked meats are great. Found out bar was made from an old salvaged barn wood. Cool and green

    (5)

  • Dom D.

    Good, but not great. Service left something to be desired. I wish I could say I liked it better. Ribs were on the dry side. The brisket was average at best. From what friends had told me, I was expecting much better. The sides were just average. Perhaps I caught them on an off day.

    (3)

  • Collin K.

    I drove 90 minutes from Madison to have lunch at Smoke Shack, and it was well worth it. The food was hot, smokey and delicious. The service was top-notch. And the atmosphere was perfect for a BBQ place. I'm still having dreams about the candied bacon and the pecan pie, so don't pass on the appetizers or deserts!

    (5)

  • alan w.

    By way of update. First off, the fact that Smoke Shack has so many positive reviews, and that the place is packed on a regular basis, I find it really tremendous that George would take the time to address my experience directly. That being said he invited my wife and I back for another meal. They were busy, so we took a drink at the bar. A very friendly bartender discussed their beers with us. Being beer-snobs and home brewers ourselves, we liked talking to a guy who knew his stuff. We didn't wait long and we were seated in a nice little nook. Matt came over and took the time to explain their methods and philosophy behind their meats. The explanation he gave made a lot of things make more sense. I ordered the baby back ribs, my wife had a combo plate. All the food came out pretty promptly despite the place being crowded. The ribs were dry rub (more on that in a bit) and very tender. I liked the fact that I could taste the smoke in the meat and that it was a very full flavor. Too often I've had barbecue that's obviously baked with liquid smoke, not here. The table (this time) offered several different sauces, all we later learned made from scratch in-house. I tried them all, and came away a BIG fan of their Kansas City style. VERY flavorful and tangy. Complimented the meat very well. I think that's where things might have been a little off last time. My wife and I have had BBQ everywhere from West Texas to Eastern N. Carolina, and everywhere you go, everyone has the "right" way of doing things. Everyone has their own sauce or their own rub, and that's the way that person "knows" BBQ should be done. Smoke Shack seems to take a slightly different approach. The dry rub itself does not offer much in the way of flavor the way I'm used to. Instead, it seems to highlight the subtle notes of the meat, like it's smoke flavor. When paired with one of the sauces, it takes on a different quality, one that "stays out of the way" and allows the full flavor of the sauce to come through. Had the sauces been available the first time around, I think we would have had a different impression of the food. Dessert was good as well. I was pleasantly surprised by the brand new cranberry apple tart. Brandon, our waiter, had me the moment "cranberry" came out of his mouth. VERY good and tart. Oh, and after dinner coffee? So nice to see someplace actually give you a MUG of coffee rather than a tiny little teacup. All of the staff this time around was nice and attentive, without being intrusive. I have to say, our return visit won me over. Now I'm much more interested to experience the rest of the menu and see what other local takes the chef has on my beloved BBQ.

    (4)

  • Ryan S.

    Drove almost 100 miles thinking about their brisket the whole time. I sit down only to discover they ran out of brisket. at 9pm on a Saturday. I ended up not ordering anything and left very disappointed.

    (1)

  • Ali A.

    Yummy for the tummy! Light and delicious.

    (4)

  • Barbara D.

    I love BBQ and smoked flavor. This place fulfills both those loves. Heard about the sitting with random ppl. that really doesn't bother me but it did my daughter. Guess i brought her good luck 'cuz we got our own table. (Maybe she'll go out with me more now. LOL) I had pulled pork and sweet potato fries. The pork was delicious and the fries were best i ever had. So often i find the sweet potato fries boring but these were tasty. Since this was downtown week special it included ice cream for dessert. so we had a great meal for a good price. My only complaint would be the left over container that my pork and fries were place into, was not foil or plastic lined so it absorbed that last bit of BBQ sauce on the pork and then she dumped the fries on top so they were soggy. i dumped the fries (after sharing a few with my dog who loved them) but reheated the pork and added a little bottled BBQ sauce. It was still good reheated. So if you usually have leftovers, bring a plastic bag to maintain the quality of food

    (4)

  • Brooke B.

    We were super excited to try the Smoke Shack tonight for our date night. We were pretty disappointed. The drink list wasn't very good. No Kentucky Bourbon beer when everything else on the menu was bourbon. The fried tomato salad was really good. I got the ribs, not that great, cornbread not that great but we compare that to Maxie's and theirs is awesome. Fried corn, not that great and I'm a huge corn fan. My husband got the brisket and got about 4 pieces and they were cold. He also got the mac n cheese and that was really good. Great decorating. Overall, we spent $100 for our night out to have a bad meal and both walked away so disappointed.

    (2)

  • Joseph M.

    Take my money, Smoke Shack! Take it and bring me tasty meats! The good outweighs the bad here but I will dwell on the bad because the Smoke Shack is so close to five stars and I want to see them get there. Just fix the issues and I will fill a blue book with an essay on how good this place is. The ribs are awesome. The pulled pork is delectable and does not come slathered in sauce. It comes ready to be doused in the sauce of your choosing (or left as is, which is tasty). The "house" sauce is the best of the variety of sauces they provide. Give them all a chance but I left there wishing I could buy the house sauce at my local grocery store. The homemade potato chips are fantastic. I was using them as a vehicle for sauce as well. Finally, let's address the missing star. Most of the (or the preferred) seating is outside. Which on the Friday my group went there was perfect due to the recent return of tolerable temperatures. However, the outside is completely uncovered. Which means someone (in our case, me) is likely to get a face full of sunshine until the sun ducks behind the nameless redbrick building to the west. Second, this place is really close to the lake. At about the same time the sun is getting out of your way the seagulls are returning to their roosts (at the festival grounds, I imagine). Luckily there were no casualties on this day but two of the party did narrowly miss getting white washed. I don't want to ruin the back porch feel but a trellis would provide a little more comfort and safety from above. The other reason for the missing star is that at 7pm they were down to one order of brisket. I understand that it takes hours to make good BBQ and I know that "running out" is part of the BBQ life. But running out of brisket at 7pm seems like poor planning. One of our group got the last bit of brisket (not me) while the others who wanted it had to settle for second choice. Fix these issues and it's an easy five stars.

    (4)

  • Keith R.

    My party had an OK experience here. The awesome- These are the best sauces I've ever had in a BBQ joint. The good- Service. Brisket. Hot links. The alright- The chicken and pulled pork. The bad- The ribs. Price. I'll go back for the brisket and hot links at some point. The ribs were not meaty, a problem I think stems from using pigs that are not commercially fattened. Mine also had a couple of bone chips, like they were cut but not rinsed. The price is a bit steep for what you're getting, in my opinion. Again, the natural meat and 3rd ward location doesn't help. I am a bit biased on price, as I'm able to do a 8-9 pound shoulder at home for about 15 bucks, for example. I appreciate the craftsmanship to be sure, but I'd rather do it at home with almost identical results for way less. I want to leave on a high note. The sauces were awesome, and even though I normally make my own, I'd buy these if offered.

    (2)

  • Chris R.

    Candied bacon? Kansas City eggrolls? The mac and Cheese? Go. NOW!

    (5)

  • Rufus J.

    I had high expectations for this place after people raved about it like it was the best place in the world. I almost wanted to dislike it because of that. OnMilwaukee had a mouthgasm when they wrote their typical rosey colored glasses piece on it like always. But... ...it lived up to everything. Yes it's expensive but yes it's worth it. Take $20 and use it there. I should have gone sooner.

    (5)

  • Matt K.

    I'm going to be quick on this one because this place warrants little serious consideration. Pro's Near a lot of cougars that love BBQ It's not MJ's The meat came out properly cooked and I felt no concern for food borne illness. The waitress didn't smell. Con's The staff was really indifferent and uncomfortable to talk to. Meat was salty, lacking in direction, and somewhat annoying. After I have good meat, i don't need dessert. That's called hot dog in a hallway syndrome. The staff reminds me of talking to cousins I don't remember after a dead aunts funeral. Blah, bring your in-laws here and insist they pay. Really not that good.

    (2)

  • Sandy P.

    Smoke Shack just added their BLUES BRUNCH to the menu. Holy Mother of Creamy Decadent Gravy! It is so good. We tried the Biscuits & Gravy with Pulled Pork, the Poblano Waffles & Fried Chicken and a Cinnamon Roll that was bigger than the plate. I have always really, REALLY liked Smoke Shack, but now that I know that they options await on the weekend, I will be making the trek downtown on Saturday and Sunday as well. Dear Lord, that gravy!

    (5)

  • Chris J.

    Some damn good BBQ in Milwaukee. They do a good job going for the southern feel with many sauces for you to put on your BBQ orders. I got the pulled pork which came out nice and juicy. I can't remember which sauces I tried but I enjoyed all of them! Oh and a solid beer selection too. A Spotted Cow for your BBQ perhaps? Don't mind if I do!

    (5)

  • Tim C.

    The Smoke Shack is located in a revitalized area of Milwaukee called the Third Ward, but it has a different style than what's around it. It's literally a "shack," a house with a homey feel amid the office buildings on the edge of downtown. It's a convenient spot for lunch during the workday, but when you're inside you feel like you're far away from the office. The first thing you notice when you walk in is the old time atmosphere thanks to re-used wooden planks taken from an old barn in Waupun, Wisconsin. It immediately sets the scene for a down-home barbecue meal. There are lots of opinions on what makes an authentic or real bbq, and all I can say is it's just damn tasty. There are a variety of sauces to suit your taste for ribs, pulled pork and other meat on the menu. It's complimented with excellent corn bread, sides and dessert. There is always top notch customer service, too. It's one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee, hands down.

    (5)

  • Danielle S.

    Much room to improve! The interior of the restaurant was beautiful. I loved the intimate setting, felt kind of like a secret hideout, definitely not in the middle of the city. However, the service was pretty awful. I got there at 5:30 on a Friday so it was pretty dead. There were three hostesses, but the party of 3 I was with had to wait five minutes for two of the hostesses to seat a couple in front of us, while the one hostess just stood there at the front awkwardly waiting for the other two to come rescue her. Our waiter was very inattentive and looked uncomfortable as well. I understand that this is a newer restaurant, but every worker we encountered in there seemed like this was their first job in the restaurant business. The food came out pretty quickly, and it definitely smelled amazing. It's cool how they have all of their different bbq sauces on the table so you can try all of them and decide which is your favorite before dousing your food in it. I had a bbq seitan sandwich. Yes, a bbq place with a vegan option! Pretty awesome in my book. However, I question the bun being vegan. Furthermore, they claim that the bun is hand crafted, but quite honestly it tasted like an off brand white bun that you could get anywhere. Nothing at all special about it. Not even toasted. I ended up taking the guts out of my bun because it was killing the flavor of my sandwich. If Smoke Shack develops a true "hand-crafted" bun and their service improves, I think it would be an awesome place. I'm looking forward to trying it again once they've had a while to perfect their service and hopefully their menu too.

    (2)

  • Richard S.

    I wanted to fall in LOVE with the Smoke Shack and the best in can say is I have a slight case of the "likes"! Actually more like 2.5 Stars I have had BBQ all over the country. St. Louis, Tennessee, both Carolinas, Florida, Texas and even a kick ass place in Detroit and I've never had anything close to those experiences in Wisconsin. I Don't even care about the style...wet or dry...I like it all!Good BBQ is good BBQ! On to my experience at Smoke Shack: We got there about 4pm on a Saturday and found a Parking Spot right in front of the restaurant. As I got out of the car I immediately noticed a few things. First was a nice hand made sign pointing out their wheelchair entrance. There was an easy to handle ramp and a nice wide door. Second was a patio area full of Picnic tables that will be Uber popular in the Summer. Third was how tiny the place seemed. I wondered what that would mean for me inside. When I walked in and asked for a table I was told they only had one Wheelchair Accessible table with only one spot for a wheelchair.. The real problem with is the location and setup of the table. It is on the opposite side of the wheelchair entrance. That means when it gets crowded just getting to it will be very difficult. It is in a corner behind a divider that makes very hard to actually fit comfortably inside. I have a very small manual chair and I am extremely independent and even I had a difficult time wedging myself into my spot. So much so that I actually had to back into the booth and kind of do a Y-turn to get in. If I have to worry about just getting to a table, I am probably going pick a place where I know this isn't a problem! Besides, what would they do if I came in with three other friends that used wheelchairs? I know to most of you, this might seem like a small thing, but it actually comes down to feeling wanted and appreciated as a customer. I'll get off my soapbox now. On to the food. Our meal started out on an odd note. We got there before 5PM. and noted that The Rib Tip Appetizer wasn't available. Our server said she had good news! They had some, so we placed an order. Literally seconds later she came back and told us they were out. No problem, just awkward. We just ordered some really good cocktails(mine was like a Long Island, but I can't remember the name.) and an order of Candied Bacon. The Bacon was sweet, crunchy, salty and came with some outstanding Sweet Potato Fries. I just wish there was more Bacon in the order. Four pieces with a bunch of Fries so it was more like we ordered Sweet Potato Fries with Bacon instead of the other way around. I ordered the Brisket and Kevin ordered the Pulled Pork. My Brisket was good. Not as smoky as I am used to, but a nice flavorful rub and obviously great quality meat. Kevin loved his pulled pork and the bite I had was really tender and juicy! We both ordered Mac and Cheese, which didn't blow me away. It was more like Pasta with cheese sauce than the classic Baked Mac and Cheese I was expecting. We both ordered the Pecan Pie with Whiskey Ice Cream. This did Blow me away!!!! It was fantastic! The Ice Cream is made just for them which is a bummer cuz I'd like to keep a quart in my freezer all year! Since they don't Sell Ribs till 5 PM(not sure I understand that philosophy, but maybe that'll change when they are more established and have a better idea of how much product they need.). We split a Rack to go. When I reheated mine they were a little tough, but I'll give them a pass on that since reheated stuff never tastes the same. On the way out I stopped to use the Men's"s Room and, was pleasantly surprised at how accessible it was.It was actually easier to get in the stall than it was to get to my table. I was very conflicted writing this review and almost feel bad about it. I know they are a new place and I see so much potential there that I know I'll try them again. I just felt I had to share my experience. Maybe next time I'll sit on the Patio and all will be right with the world!

    (2)

  • Walter M.

    Angie & Joe did it again. This is a phenomenal spot to come and have REAL BBQ. The meat is so tender and melts in your mouth. Each sauce offered taste wonderful when paired with the correct meet choice. Sweet potato fries are OFF THE CHAIN. EXCELLENT!!! I have yet to try the desserts but that will be happening very, very, VERY soon. Overall, A MUST DO AND EXPERIENCE!

    (5)

  • Kevin C.

    My friends and i decided to go to this place for our weekly new restaurant. I got the pulled pork meal and it was out of this world. Then it was on to desert and the bacon brownie with whiskey ice cream was different but tasted great.

    (5)

  • Brian E.

    [edited: please see comments at the end] The smoke shack is great in theory but comes up short in numerous places. If you know what to expect going in then perhaps you can avoid disappointment. Upon entering you will notice that there is really no wait area and that seating is very limited. If it is busy you may be outside or perhaps if it is lighter then you can wait around the bar area. The first thing you need to know going in is that the ribs are of very limited supply. They don't start serving them until 5 and when they are gone they are gone. The first time I was unaware so I just ordered the brisket. The second time I arrived at 5:30. While waiting for our table we overheard someone tell the hostess that they were out of baby back ribs. It was 5:50pm. I was disheartened because I wanted to secure a rack. Once we were up we were seated with another couple as they are now doing a communal style seating. Something that didn't happen on my first visit. Once the awkward first date couple departed we were good to go and a lively older couple were seated with us. It was the gentleman's third trip there and he was hoping to get the ribs this time around. The appetizers are nothing to write home about. The stuffed poblano is a good idea but not at almost $7. Don't plan on sharing it. You only get one. I did inquire about the rib situation and expressed that i was disappointed. The waiter told me that there was another round on and those would be pulled off at 7pm. I asked if i could get a rack of those. After checking with the kitchen we were good to go. I advised the gentleman sitting with me of the situation so he could get in on it. I felt bad that his luck securing these ribs was so poor. It turns out I got the last rack and he was again let down. I ended up sharing some with him and his wife. What is all the fuss about? The price doesn't justify what you get with the ribs. Before concluding I would like to add that the brisket is rather good and done well. The ribs are too hard to get. The appetizers are basic from the mac and cheese to the poorly done rib tips. In all honesty it's not worth trying to find parking for this crap shoot mediocre experience. While nicely decorated the wait times are too large, the waiting area non existent, some items cannot be obtained which is poor at a "BBQ" joint. This is the first time in my years of dining that I was unable to get ribs more then once at a rib joint. This restaurant is more of a rough draft. It looks good on paper but hasn't been fully realized. [edited remark 4/19/12] Since Joe obviously cares about his customers I will venture back in the future and this review will be edited to encompass all of my experiences with heavy emphasis on the upcoming one since changes have been made. This is the fairest option as things with all new businesses do change.

    (2)

  • Jonathan H.

    5 star food 1 star prices Hope they let you BYOB since the beer and liquor prices are through the roof. Still it's some of the best BBQ in Milwaukee, if not the best. Ideally have someone else pay for you and you'll love this place. The sauces are solid but not incredible but the meat is awesome, besides a quite average beef brisket. Chef recommends the full rack of ribs, pulled pork, chicken wings and rib tips.

    (4)

  • Sara V.

    The interior is so cool. They really turned the old MJ's into something to talk about. The food was really good too. Loved the chili, corn bread, and sausage. Not to mention an amazing old fashion was indulged by me. Hubby ordered one to and ordered a second. Looking forward to hanging on the patio this summer!

    (4)

  • John S.

    I really wanted to love this place, but BBQ is one of those things that you absolutely have to hit out of the park. I know that they publicize that the meat is of higher quality, but sometimes, that isn't your friend when you barbecue. Historically, great BBQ came from lesser cuts and quality of meat and was made amazing by the pit master. While they do an OK job, the meat is often dry and I am amazed at the high prices. A few of us went together and we all ordered something different so we could share. The only dish I really enjoyed was the short ribs. They were real fatty, but that is to be expected with that type of cut. The ribs were cut in such a way that it looked like there were small pork chops on the ends...I don't want small pork chops...I want ribs. The brisket was dry and the pulled pork was as well. I was also not a fan of the fried corn. Why add extra calories to corn when it does nothing to enhance it? The cornbread had a good sweet flavor (I like sweet cornbread), but it was flat and too dense...seemed kinda amateur or like it came from a mix I do have to say that the desserts were AWESOME! The whiskey ice cream was so good as was the praline dessert. I think they will get there with the BBQ if they hire a professional pit master. You honestly can get better 'cue at Famous Dave's and that is because they are really good at it!

    (3)

  • Susan F.

    First, let me state up front that I have spent a lot of time in Texas and Memphis. A LOT of time. To compare this to either of those BBQ heavens may not be fair, but I can't help it. I had been wanting to try this place since it opened, but will not wait 2 hours for really anything. Finally got to go on a not as busy lunch day. I was alerted to possible disappointment early on, when I ordered iced tea and the waitress did not ask 'sweet or unsweet?. Really? A BBQ place without sweet tea? This just does not compute with me. Onward, ordered the candied bacon. Not bad, but not great. Seemed like bacon dipped in molasses and maybe broiled for a minute. I have had something similar down south and it was about 1000x better. My entree of pulled pork, cornbread and mac n cheese was just alright. I personally found it really overpriced for BBQ. The pork was just ok, cornbread moist but lacking any real flavor (seemed like it came from the Jiffy box and was made in an over, not a cast iron pan). Mac n cheese was the highlight, that was really good. Service was fine, but the atmosphere, for me, left something to be desired. I guess they are trying to create a roadhouse type of atmosphere, but the music was bad, bad blues. And way, way too loud. There is good blues, but they weren't playing it here. The communal table thing, as mentioned, is also not so fun. Having to reach across people you don't know for condiments, at this price point... not so much. I probably won't be back. I'll risk 15th & Center for something authentic and more reasonable priced. Edit: So, Joe says they do offer sweet tea. Then it's a service issue that I wasn't offered any. On the menu, it clearly stated 'unsweetened'. I also understand that better, i.e. more responsible meat costs more, boy do I ever understand that, and to be honest, I had forgotten that point about this place, so that can make up for the heftier than usual BBQ prices. I still think the music was too loud, even taking different tastes into consideration. Having to yell across the table was a bit much. But I do love that the owner, whoever Joe is, takes the time to read his reviews and comment. And as I said, yes, I have been spoiled by Texas and Memphis, so just ignore me. :)

    (3)

  • Vladimir K.

    When we went in here, it was packed, finally they said "we're going to seat you at one of our community tables," this was just a 6-seat table that already had a family of four eating at it, we were sitting with them and it was just plain bizarre and awkward, they didn't look happy that we got sat there and we felt pretty wierd about it too. It's not like a community table when you're at Oktoberfest or something, it was just a small table that already had people at it, it was wierd. "Community tables" my ass, what a joke. Fortunately a couple seats at the bar opened up so we moved there. The brisket here was a huge, massive disappointment that made me pissed off for spending so much money. I am not exaggerating when I say it was tougher than shoe leather and almost impossible to chew. I kept having to spit it out because it could not be chewed, seriously. It was not even edible. It was like trying to eat a saddle. That's fucked up especially considering the high price tag. Everything on the plate arrived below room temperature too, what's that all about. I'm not too crazy about that minced-up mayonaise-flavored purple coleslaw either, this was just totally bland. Service was pretty good though, and the atmosphere of the place is pretty cool, it really is like you're in a shack. I like that they try to source quality and responsible ingredients here. After reading some of the good reviews I'm thinking maybe I just caught them on a bad day or something, but as of now I think the BBQ from Ashley's (on Center street) is a million times better, way more flavorful and way cheaper. I feel like kind of an asshole writing this but I'm just telling it like it was, seriously that brisket must have been the toughest, dryest peice of meat I have ever attempted to eat.

    (2)

  • Mandi S.

    The second time at the shack wasn't nice at all. We were given a table by the bar and were served by a bartender. As a Server myself, I should have known better than to allow this. Let servers serve let bartenders pour drinks. It all started when we were told there wasn't ribs available until after 4. WTH??? It's a rib place! The main part of the meal/food (beef brisket that I settled for) came out cold, when I asked for an additional order of Mac n cheese it took until we were done eating to get to me. We were not offered refills on soda, not checked on once. I left the guy 10% tip ONLY because I'm a server and I get that we all get busy and forget but that was crazy. Since it was my husbands birthday (and all he wanted was ribs, that he didn't get at said rib joint) we decided to try the praline cake. Wow, maybe no one orders that very often because it tasted like freezer. Wow Smoke Shack.... You've changed with time. I raved and raved about you on my first visit!!

    (1)

  • Tim S.

    Been here 3 times now and every time the food has been awesome! First 2 times were during the week and there was no wait. 3rd time was a Saturday night- we arrived at 4:50 and waited an hour to be seated. My only complaint is that there is no room to stand and have a drink when they are busy during the winter. The size of the restaurant forces you to go elsewhere to have a beer. I'll be back for sure as the food is THAT good!

    (4)

  • Erica K.

    After many tries, I finally got a seat at the Smoke Shack. In the past when I have tried to eaten lunch here there was at least an hour wait which doesn't fly for somebody who only gets an hour to eat lunch. But last Tuesday must have been my lucky day because there was no wait at noon and we were seated right away. Something to be aware of is that these are "community tables" so you are generally sitting with strangers. Its not like at a beer hall where the tables are long either....we sat at a table for 6 with 2 other people right next to us. It was a little odd at first since it felt kind of like we were on a date with them..but I talk to strangers sitting next to me at the bar all the time so I guess its not that different. They also have a tiny bar to sit at but I think your best bet will be enjoying the deck when the weather warms up. My friend and I both had the brisket sandwich, both put house bbq sauce on it as well. It was very good, not chewy but tender and nice that you could control the amount and which type of bbq sauce to put on it (nothing worse than a soggy sandwich). It definitely wasn't hot, seemed like maybe it had been sitting out of the cooker awhile before it made it to our table but was still tasty. Came with sweet potato fries which were also good. We split 2 desserts- the Bourbon Praline Cake and the Bacon Bourbon Brownie. The cake was rich, gooey and moist- good but not worth the calories. The brownie was not for me...I had never had the bacon chocolate combo before and I hated it. Way to meat tasting and not enough sweet. It did come with Whiskey Ice Cream that was awesome though- next time I will stick with a scoop of that. I'm excited to go back and sit on their deck with a drink. I really want to try the mac and cheese and if you sign up for their mailing list that you can try it (or any other side) for free! Prices are a little high but pretty much on par for the Third Ward and would never deter me from stopping by.

    (4)

  • Murr E.

    Second Review: Just as amazing if not more. i thought it was going to be weird sitting by other people but it wasn't. It was Ah-mazing. The food was crazy awesome just like last time, but at a better price! :) I talk about this place constantly... It is wayyy too good to not try at least once in your life... I know I will be there on those amazing summer days/nights to eat on that deck that is starting to look absolutely fantastic. Keep up the AMAZING work!

    (5)

  • Katie H.

    Good stuff! We've only had takeout so I can't speak for the atmosphere of the restaurant, but the brisket, sausage and corn bread are all outstanding. Mac 'n' cheese is pretty good too. Beware, if you want brisket you better get there early - I got the last portion on a Sunday at 5:30pm. Would love to go again and stay to eat.

    (4)

  • Beth P.

    I had one of the most delicious pulled pork sandwiches at the Smoke Shack. They serve the meals without sauce so you can choose you own. I loved the Texas BBQ sauce best. It was tomato based with a little kick. The sweet potato fries and chips are both great options that are homemade. I was surprised how much I liked the sweet potato fries. They had just the right amount of sweet/salty and were nice and crisp on the outside. Will be back for more, Smoke Shack!

    (4)

  • Becky S.

    This place is really, really good! The decor is super cute and I like that they really went all out with the place. The tables are very high up so at first I was nervous it wouldn't work with our son in tow, but nope, they have specially made high chairs for high tables -- very cool! The service was great and many of the waitstaff stopped to smile and wave at my son -- very sweet. My husband and I both had the special of the evening -- a plate of pulled pork, a rack of ribs, and cornbread. Everything was delicious! I liked the ribs the best and my husband liked the pork best. They have four different BBQ sauces to choose from and the "Carolina Style" (really South Carolina) mustard BBQ sauce was excellent on the pork. They also have a really nice patio out back with picnic tables that looks like would be fun on a hot summer day. Definitely recommend!

    (5)

  • Brian H.

    Like most of the reviews I found this place to be okay. The decor is awesome! It seems really hard to find some good, homemade BBQ in Milwaukee and I was excited to try the Smoke Shack. I got a 1/3 rack of ribs for lunch, a little dry and not too warm. The ribs weren't overwhelming but satisfying. They do have good and a variety of BBQ sauce. The food was slightly over priced but it's location kind of dictates that. The service was good though.

    (3)

  • Kristin S.

    Great atmosphere, food and service. The management is mindful of the amount of meat they order so as to ensure that all the customers receive only the freshest meat. Meat is used completely up during one business day so you do run the risk of not getting your first request if you dine late. I think this honors the animal and the customer. We will be back.

    (5)

  • Nancy R.

    I have to admit I was not very hungry when we went to the Smoke Shack for dinner and that has probably warped my opinion. The sauces are all good. We had the platter of all the different meats: pork, brisket, sausage, and chicken. We also had a whole slab of ribs. Everything tasted good. I have lived down in North Carolina and traveled extensively across the South, so I am pretty picky about my barbeque. This was a long ways from the best, but it was perfectly adequate. I will certainly return. The service was good and the atmosphere is excellent. I am sure I will never find truly great barbeque in Wisconsin, so this place may be as good as I can expect.

    (3)

  • Alissa T.

    Usually this place is great but tonight our waitress is super slow and there isn't even much of a wait for a table. Sad.

    (3)

  • sara b.

    One of the best bbq restaurants I've ever been to is called Slow's in Detroit. Unfortunately. It's unfortunate because I *love* good bbq but don't get to Detroit very often... Enter Smoke Shack. I'm so extremely happy for this new MKE gem. Quality food, excellent service (who'da thunk anyone would say that after just a few short weeks after opening?) and great vibe. The sauces on the table are essential, try them all! The fried tomato salad was amazing. I've only been for lunch thus far and can't wait to go for dinner to try more of the food. Well done and thank you :)

    (4)

  • Mark T.

    A short while ago I was finally able to try out Smoke Shack. My wife and I were in the area, well, OK, maybe about 25 miles west, but I knew the trip would be well worth it - and I can't wait to go back. They have one of those menus were so many items sound good that you need to come back and try something different over and over again. We started out with an appetizer called Kansas City Eggrolls. One of the best appetizers I have ever had; I could have (and probably will in the future) just have that as my meal along with a beer or two. How can you go wrong with pulled pork and cheese in an eggroll? My wife and I both enjoyed them very much. I had the brisket sandwich, which was excellent. What I thought was a huge portion of brisket served on a fresh roll with your choice of sides. I also had the sweet potato fries which were very good as well. You have your choice of five different BBQ sauces which is an excellent idea. It allows you to discover the various flavors that each one has, and mix 'em up a bit for a truly unique flavor. I tried them all but especially liked the "house" sauce with a little bit of the sauce named "kick" to give it a little more, well kick. The sandwich was rich and full of flavor. My wife had the roasted portobello sammich, again it was very good - she loved it and liked the fact that she can order a non-meat item in a BBQ restaurant. The desserts looked awesome, but as usual I ate too much to have any. The menu is packed full of meal selections and very well put together I think. It's hard to describe flavor when it comes to BBQ, but they did a great job at that too. The restaurant was very clean and well decorated. The staff was very attentive and professional. I love it when they ask if this is the first time you dined with them so they can give you the rundown. The aroma should be bottled and sold. While not the largest restaurant in town, there was plenty of room even for a big guy like me; they also have a nice size bar where I can see myself enjoying my next meal there!

    (5)

  • Shane C.

    Update to previous review. Joe sent a meesage to come back in and try them out again. Eric and Drea took care of us yesterday. Everything was wonderful. Greens tasted like they were straight out of the south (That is actually a good thing in this case) Also, try the candied bacon. Its as good as it sounds. So glad that we came back in and gave it another shot!

    (5)

  • Paul C.

    Best ribs in Milwaukee!

    (5)

  • Brady G.

    Love the location. Very cool facade which fits for the theme of the restaurant. When we arrived we were greeted by very friendly staff that always made a point to refill our drinks and ask us how we were enjoying our meal. When I opened the menu, I was quite surprised to find that most of the entrees were over $12. This of course made me nervous, but also optimistic for the meal I was about to have. I had the pulled pork while my friend had the angus. The servings were ok but could stand to be larger for the price. The overall flavor of the meal was good, however I was surprised to find both meats to be quite dry causing me to consistently marinade in multiple favors of provided BBQ sauce. Overall I don't think the meal was worth the price. Could be much better.

    (2)

  • R K.

    Most of what everyone else said is true. Food is good and some cool choices and takes on BBQ. My one problem with the place is the prices. I see a previous review that the owner or a employee responded stating its because of the cuts of meat they use. I can see that but I have been to many BBQ places with very good cuts of meat and still not such high prices and small portions. I had the combo for 16.50 and got sausage and pork and I was thinking I would be taking home leftovers. Not the case. I ate everything and even some of my wifes sandwich. The sausage was smaller than a hotdog and the pork was a small handful. The largest portions on the plate were the sides, so you fill up on sides. Oh and we even had the pork eggrolls. This place will have no problem staying in business because its a cool place, good location, and good food. Just wish portions were larger or prices were lower.

    (3)

  • Kristin G.

    I'm seriously a fan. I went with 3 friends on a Saturday night. We had an hour wait (which makes sense considering how small the interior is) but the hostess was very nice and we just popped next door for a quick drink before returning. We were seated right at the hour mark (way to go, host staff!). Our server (and DARN, I can't remember her name... because she was TERRIFIC!!!) was a ton of fun and incredibly knowledgeable and helpful in deciding what to order. We started with the stuffed poblano and the pulled pork nachos. Both terrific. I loved the poblano and one of my friends couldn't stop raving about the nachos (made with fresh jalapenos, which was great). We had the brisket sammich, plain brisket entree, and the pulled pork sammich, as well as 'upgraded' to the decadent mac and cheese for our side. All fantastic choices - and the cornbread with the entree was amazing. For dessert, we had the pecan pie with the whiskey ice cream - amazing! The interior and the bar area were fantastic - one of my friends commented that it felt like we'd stepped out of Milwaukee for a bit. All in all, I'm totally a fan. And that's a big statement, because I'm very fussy. :)

    (5)

  • Jim S.

    A big THANK YOU to all the staff and the owners you sure did a wonderful job bringing a great BBQ restaurant to Milwaukee! The decor, music, lighting, everything is beautiful and comfortable, BIG PROPS to FluxDesign Milwaukee on that!! I dined at the Smoke Shack with a group 8, we're good friends so we ordered a variety of menu items and ate family-style. Everything I ate (which covers most of the main menu items, appetizers and desserts) was delicious. Starting with the appetizers I think I liked the Candied Bacon with Sweet Potato Fries the most, and in a close second the Leeks were better than I imagined (first time trying leeks for me.) The Nachos with pork and BBQ sauce blew my mind, who knew BBQ sauce on the nachos would work. Oh and the Buffalo Wings... The only ones better are the special order hour-long slow roasted wings at AJ Bombers. My favorite as far as the main course was the Pulled Pork, but the Rib Tips, Sausage, Brisket and Chicken were all perfect. There wasn't anything that I would of changed. I absolutely love that the sauces come on the side (available at the table) so you can flavor to your liking, or if you're like me, use none at all!! Of the sides, I had the Mac & Cheese and after some encouraging I added some pulled pork and Kansas City BBQ sauce and that just really is one of the tastiest Mac & Cheeses I've ever had. Not to say that the Purple Coleslaw wasn't delicious but next to the Cornbread and Smoked Corn it doesn't stand a chance with me. There was several other vegetable related sides that I didn't try, but it was nice to see they had them, oh and if you're a salad person... They have them too :) I'm not gonna have much to say about the desserts (mainly because by then I was so overwhelmed with goodness that I couldn't pay attention or see straight) but I did love both ice creams that I had by Purple Door and they're not to be played with, and one of them might not be best for the young kids as it's got a good amount of Whiskey in it (which is an exclusive to the restaurant.) Other than the ice creams, the Pecan Pie, Bacon Bourbon Browine, and the Pecan cake thingy were perfect treats to end a beautiful meal. The best part of the menu for one in our group was the variety of menu items that are vegetarian. The owners of the Smoke Shack take great pride, care, and respect in choosing their products. The pigs are raised humanly and are hormone free, the products are as local as possible and cooked the right way. You really can't go wrong!

    (5)

  • Phil G.

    Love this place! The service is always quality, my first requirement to any restaurant getting 5 stars. The ambience feels like an old southern smoke shack, which is small, quaint and warm. Love! Now about the food: heck yeah it's good! From the candied bacon, to the pulled pork, to the sauces that are made with love, to even the cole slaw that tops it all off...WOW! Is all I can say. Combine that with the fact that management is always checking in to make sure even the tiniest problem is handled quickly and efficiently (hasn't happened to me, tho I've heard others not get exactly what they expected, then were fixed FAST and left delighted), and this place is 5 star barbecue.

    (5)

  • Phil J.

    Hoo boy. if i lived in Milwaukee I would be a regular here. Keep in mind I'm a vegetarian, and it was still great. Ordered the fried okra, which was fantastic, and the portabella mushroom, which was really good too. Tons of different sauces, i liked the Kansas one the best. Overall really enjoyable.

    (4)

  • Andrew A.

    I have been waiting to go to this place since MJ's closed in March of 2010 and heard that the Smoke Shack was suppose to take over. Well 2 years later it finally opened and here I am. MKE needs more BBQ places like this one. There is no private lot to park in but there is plenty of street parking and paid parking in the Historic 3rd Ward of Milwaukee. They do not take reservations due to the number of seating inside (about 50) and the majority of tables being community tables. When summer hits they should be able to seat double that on their outside patio. The bar itself takes up more than a 1/4 of the interior. They also do not have those annoying buzzer machines to let you know that your table is ready. They will text you from the hostess' iPad to your cell phone - which I thought was pretty cool. We waited about 20 minutes after they told us 30 to 40 minutes. We sat at one of the community tables - which I don't mind at all but you could tell that the people who were not used to it made them feel a little uncomfortable. Their menu has everything you would expect a BBQ place to have - sausage, pulled pork, brisket, wings, chicken, ribs, mac-n-cheese, cole slaw, greens, corn on the cob, corn bread - and an assortment of deserts - BEIGNETS! Also their meat does not come with BBQ sauce on it. They dry rub it and have an assortment of sauce on the table for you - house, KC, Texas, and Carolina. My wife got the pulled pork with corn bread and mac-n-cheese. I got the half rack of spare ribs with corn bread and mac-n-cheese. Every piece of the meal was delicious. The huge piece of corn bread was moist and tasty. The mac-n-cheese was cheesy and creamy (I wish that they offered to put smoked bacon in it). They gave my wife a generous amount of pulled pork. The spare ribs were tasty with or without the array of sauces. I should have gotten an entire rack because if I didn't have the sides, I would have left hungry. But it did leave me room for the Beignets but they were out by the time we finished. For only being open for 2 1/2 months, the service was great and the food was exceptional. You don't find that too often in a new place. I know people in Milwaukee are going to think that the prices are somewhat high but if you compare it to other BBQ places around the country such as the Joint in NOLA (which I have been to as well) they are comparable. So if you don't want to drive up to the north side of town for Speed Queen or Ashley's, the Smoke Shack is the place to go in the Historic 3rd Ward of Milwaukee. If they decide to offer bacon in the mac-n-cheese and white bread with the BBQ, I'd give you 5 stars instead of 4.

    (4)

  • Erica R.

    What up Smoke Shack! Word to the weary - if you're claustrophobic, don't come here. This joint is crazy tiny and crazy packed. So if you're not into waiting for a table I'd steer yourself in a different direction. But if you love yourself some BBQ and you have a little patience then you'll be in heaven. From the second you walk in the door you can smell the smoke and sweet sauce. The tables are community tables, so cozy up to your neighbor and throw back shots of the BBQ sauces on your table. We loved our dishes. I had the sloppy joe with sweet potato fries (which were ridiculously amazing). My hubs had the brisket and mac and cheese. It was all SO good that I forgot to save room for dessert. Damn. Our waiter was a little, er, distracted and slow you could say. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he was super busy and it was the week that they opened. The décor is absolutely fitting for a shack. We love the new addition to our little third ward!

    (4)

  • Mark S.

    Stopped in again today to try a few more things and was hoping for more than I got. My current go-to place for wings is Red Rock. I don't know how they make their wings, but they're the best I know of downtown. I tried SS's wings today and although I think they were well done for what they were, but they weren't for me. I think the idea is good, but just not perfected yet. They were a bit too smokey, not crispy enough, and maybe a little underdone and greasy. I'm no expert, but I'm not sure you can just smoke them at the same temp you do other things and get the results that people are looking for. The other thing which wasn't as good as earlier in the week was the cornbread. Last time I could taste some corn flavor, but this time if I had closed my eyes and taken a bite, I would have just thought it was cake. I like the moistness, but it needs more corniness. Get some corn flavor and possibly actual corn kernels in there. The pulled chicken sandwich and smoked sausage sandwich were both pretty good. The chicken was cooked very well and was very moist, my only gripe was a little too much rosemary flavor. The wings had the same issue actually. Rosemary can get overpowering fast, and if you have an actual piece in a bite, that's definitely going to overpower. The sausage sandwich was really good. Nice spiciness, and good peppers and onions on top. Although the bun looked a bit big, it wasn't as tough as I thought it might be. I'll also restate what others have said about the price, it cam be a bit much, especially for lunch. This was a gripe I heard on three different occasions: a couple coworkers, another coworker that I didn't even know had gone, and the couple sitting next to us when I went today.

    (3)

  • Nathan V.

    i didn't like it at all. the meat was lean but the portions were sad... especially for the price. Sides were just ok. the sauce is terrible.

    (2)

  • Justin E.

    I was a bit concerned about meeting friends at the Smoke Shack for dinner as I do not eat red meat or pork. However, I did a quick search of the menu online and saw some chicken options so I knew I would be fine. The different BBQ sauces on the table is a nice touch and allows people to try all and dress up their own meal. Very cool. I got the pulled chicken with baked sweet potato and the best thing there: the cornbread is amaaazing. I am excited to bring my parents here when they visit me next. The place is super small though (it's the old MJ's bar) so don't be surprised if you need to pony up to the bar to wait. There is outdoor seating too but obviously this won't work pretty much Sept-Mar.

    (4)

  • Renee W.

    I had dinner at Smoke Shack last night and the food is really good. I would give them 5 stars but i had to drop one due to the limited seating inside where you have to share a table with complete strangers ugh! I mean the lady next to me would not stop talking. Another reason I dropped a star is because it is a little expensive for BBQ. I ordered the smoked wings and rib tip appetizer with sweet potato fries and collard greens. All were Delicious! I was really surprised at how good those greens were.

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    Doggies are welcome on the porch. They were very accommodating and server was personable and friendly. We got the sampler platter with all the meats. Loved the hot link Berkshire sausage! Loved the cornbread, the best I think I've ever had. . it was moist and sweet. My wife normally doesn't like brisket but she really liked the brisket here. All the meats had a nice level of smoke that you could taste without it being overpowering. The only thing is the ribs, pulled pork, chicken and in my opinion the brisket was a bit on the dry side. The pork loin was better than the brisket due to having a nice level of fat that melted in your mouth with an unctiousness that was missing in the brisket. The mac and cheese was very creamy and i loved the unusual shape of the noodles. The sauces were OK but there was a level of sameness to them that is hard to describe. I think because the vinegar base was so strong it overwhelmed the differences? I would have liked the Texas sauce to have more pepper and the Kansas city sauce to have more molasses in it. The habenero sauce was spot on in heat level with a touch of sweet and my favorite overall. The whiskey ice cream was great and all the superlatives documented in other reviews are well deserved.

    (4)

  • Natali H.

    In all honesty, this is one of THE BEST meals I've ever had in Milwaukee! The atmosphere is awesome, fun, casual, down to earth and real. Our waitress, Megan, was a peach! Our drinks never went empty, everything was perfectly paced and she was just a genuine joy. Value- seriously worth every penny spent. We started with the Roasted Poblano Corn Chowder. So perfectly balanced. Heads up- the "cups" are HUGE. And for only $3.50! Then we ventured on to splitting the candy bacon (it comes with sweet potato fries) and some Kansas City Egg Rolls. Both are highly recommended. We went on to split the 4 meat combo with the Mac N Cheese and an extra side of the fried corn on the cob. They split it perfectly for us and didn't charge extra for a plate charge or anything. At this point I had started to slow down and know my limit but I sampled my portion of everything and seriously moaned out loud through it all. SO. GOOD. At the end we capped it off with the Bourbon Bacon Brownie and the Whiskey Ice Cream. My suggestion- bring your appetite and a friend and share your way through the menu. Also, don't be shy, this place is for eating. Try all the sauces! Oh, and a stretchy waistband may be advisable as well. Will definitely be back. Repeatedly.

    (5)

  • Sona B.

    Great rustic southern decor, each table contains a plethora of sauces, as the smoked meats come out dry. Carolina-mustard vinegar sauce mixed with Texas- spicy tomato makes for the most savory sauce ever. Mac n cheese was ok, bit on the watery side. Cornbread was dry (Maxie's is better). Got pulled pork and chicken, portion size was good for me, but prob on the smaller size for Wisconsinites. Bit pricey for BBQ, but worth it.

    (4)

  • Alice T.

    Food was great. I don't eat pork or beef but they had a lot of other options. Greens and cornbread were particularly good.

    (5)

  • Jessica O.

    Ambiance: They keep the "shack" moniker alive. Small space with wooden pioneer style wooden tables, old metal tools and pieces on the wall. Chandelier made out of mason jars. Distressed wood floors. I think this is what Dolly Parton probably lived in before hitting it big and getting b**bs. It felt slightly "tourist trap" as far as décor. Like something you'd see in Wisconsin Dells. I feel they tried a little too hard to make it look like a back woods shack and therefore it doesn't come off as organic. Drinks: Full bar, coke products and Sprecher Root Beer are offered for soft drinks. They serve their drinks in large mouth mason jars. Again the mason jars made it feel too kitschy. Food: So the food was excellent. I'll sit in a quasi-tourist trap as long as I get brisket as tender as this. I opted for the brisket as an entrée although it also comes as a sandwich. The entrée came with cornbread and side. I got the fried okra. Such an underrated veggie, so we might as well start with that. The okra was deep fried to perfection had a nice hearty cornmeal crust and came with a zippy dipping sauce that pulled this side together. The cornbread was dense and sweet almost like a cake. Yes, I am a northerner, I like my d@mn cornbread sweet. Cope. When I asked for butter the server asked if I wanted plain or their maple syrup butter. I had to go for the maple syrup butter. Slathering that on transformed this into a dessert like sin. Sweet and creamy, it upped the ante on that already delicious sweet cornbread. The brisket was beyond fork tender, beyond spoon tender, you looked at it and it fell apart. Nice and fatty too. I don't care if you judge me but I love the fatty part of the brisket just as much as the meat. Go ahead, judge me, I have no integrity when it comes to brisket fat and I'm so ok with that. The brisket is smoked 14 hours with a great rub on it. It comes "undressed" and their bbq sauces are on the table for you to choose from. I didn't try the habanero because I am heat impaired. The Carolina Gold was a disappointment, I love mustard based bbq sauces but this just tasted like thinned down yellow mustard. I ended up doing a combo of the Kansas City for sweetness and thickness and the Texas for some spice. It was delicious. We also got an order of the Kansas City Egg Rolls. Egg Rolls stuffed with BBQ pulled pork, Monterey jack cheese and deep fried and drizzled with their bbq sauces. These were awesome for my tastebuds, terrible for my arteries but oh so worth it. Staff: Server was your good solid server. The only complaint I have is that she brought my Sprecher Root Beer to the table in the can and then brought a mason jar of ice with a straw. So far so good. She opened the can and poured half of it into the glass. I didn't really want that much poured in, the only other place I've ever had a server do this was at Hooter's, I'm not sure where this practice came from. After she left I poured the majority of the soda back into the can. I drink my soda really fricken slow and if too much is in there it tends to get watered down by the time I finish if its all poured in. I know I'm a freak. So I continued peace mealing my soda out into the ice. After she brought the meal out she picked up the can and started pouring the whole thing into the ice again. I asked her not to and she was very nice about it and stopped doing that. She brought our dishes out promptly, checked back, brought the check promptly and provided us with wet naps since the meal was so messy. Bathrooms: Clean and well stocked and afforded the patron a good amount of privacy. However the toilets are really low to the ground. It threw me for a loop.

    (4)

  • Angie N.

    Being quite familiar with the success of the other Sorge Family restaurants I waited for a quieter time to head on over and give the Smoke Shack a try. My family and I headed there around 3:00 on a Sunday afternoon and were sat immediately. (Just have to throw out - being upset about waiting for a while to be sat at a restaurant that was this highly anticipated in the first week of opening is a little silly. It's to be expected!) Our waiter was extremely attentive, patient with our youngest dining companion (a very demanding 3 year old) and was extremely knowledgeable about the entire menu. We ordered the beef brisket and pulled pork and spent the remainder of lunch arguing over whose meal was better (we never came to a consensus.) Quite possibly my favorite part of the meal is that the meat comes un-sauced. You have the option of four sauces that are on the table. You choose which type and how much. Over saucing is my number one complaint about BBQ pretty much everywhere else, so I was thrilled about this. My favorites had to be the Kansas City & Carolina Gold sauces. So different from each other, but so delicious. As a condiment lover, having the option of 4 different sauces is a huge win in my book - feels like you're getting 4 different types of meat in one meal! For sides we tried the fried corn, sweet potato fries, kettle chips and macaroni and cheese and enjoyed all of them. The fried corn is unique and delicious. The sweet potato fries were crispy (no one likes soggy fries) and the macaroni and cheese hit the spot. The star of the show for me (besides the meat of course) was the cornbread. I literally raved about it after each bite. Not the least bit dry or mealy. Best I've ever had. (The 3 year old agreed and kept asking for more "cake" so I wasn't alone in fighting my dad for his piece!) And just when we thought the meal couldn't have gotten any better? We tried the whiskey ice cream. Not a huge fan of whiskey myself I wasn't excited about it, but after one bite I was hooked. It's sweet and has a hint of cinnamon and is unbelievably creamy. No matter how full you are, do yourself a favor and order a scoop of this - you will NOT be disappointed. I didn't think the food was overpriced. It's definitely not a "cheap" lunch but by no means was crazy expensive. The 5 of us had lunch for roughly the same amount at a chain restaurant the weekend before for about the same price and the food was NO WHERE near as good. I left already plotting my return and have been dreaming of that meal since.

    (5)

  • Justin F.

    Flux Design did an amazing job renovating this dumpy building on N. Milwaukee St.. Rumor has it that the second floor is going to have an innovative panache that Flux can only provide. For the most part, unsauced meat is the standard in the south. Not sure where the standard changed but I am happy to see that Milwaukee has a place up to code. Let's talk food: Roasted Poblano Corn Chowder hits the spot. Cups are bowls and bowls are troughs. Order wisely. Decadent Mac n 4 - Cheese uses a unbeknownst style of pasta that has an splendid texture. The cheese is igneous and flavorful. Smoke Shack and Balzac's not only rhyme but have a special place in my arteries for their exceptional mac n cheeses. Creamy Braised Leeks just made eating leeks worthwhile. I could live without the spare ribs but the baby backs were amazing sauceless. The only place in town you can get Purple Door's Whiskey ice cream is Smoke Shack and it is well worth the price of admission. Get it with the Gooey Bacon Bourbon Brownies and hope someone has a wheelbarrow to give you a ride home. Like any Sorge owned establishment, the standards are high, customer service is their expertise, and it is all delivered hot and fresh.

    (5)

  • Scott O.

    Damn good BBQ. Went for lunch today with my wife. We were bummed to find out they didn't have any chicken wings, but we survived. I ordered the pulled pork entree with a side of greens and my wife had the half chicken with a side of slaw. The pork was juicy and I was very happy to find a few chunks of the bark in the pile of meat. I sampled each of the 4 sauces and decided the Texas sauce was my favorite. It added a nice kick to the meat. My wife's chicken was also juicy with a great smokey flavor. Sides were tasty as well. I thought the portion sizes were great for the price. I've paid much more for a good BBQ meal in Milwaukee and in other cities, so I really don't understand the portion complaints of some reviewers. I ate enough to be happily conquered by both a food coma and a slight case of the meat sweats. I was also happy to see they have Left Hand Milk Stout in bottles. What a damn good beer to pair with some smokey meat. I thought the decor was well done. It's a small restaurant and it's sorta dark, so you get the feel you're in a saloon of sorts. Very cozy. After only a month in operation, I'm sure things will only get better.

    (4)

  • Kathy W.

    My wife and I visited the SmokeShack for the first time this past Saturday. We both had the Bloody Jack to get the meal rolling. I thought the Jack Daniels added a uniquiness to the flavor of the drink which I enjoyed, where as my wife prefers the more traditional drink with a bit less horseradish and a touch more Worstershire. The complimentary Scratch Cinnamon Roll was not only quite large but had big flavor to match. Very delicious! I ordered the pulled pork benedict and was not disappointed. The tanginess of the fried green tomato as well as the crispy fried texture really added to the overall quality of the dish. The pulled pork was exceptional and the Cajun Hollandaise added just enough flavor without overpowering the flavors of the ither components. The poached eggs were done to perfection. Better than most places that specialize in breakfast. The home fries were very good with just a nice hint of rosemary.My wife had the brisket sammich. It came without any sauce which gives you the opportunity to try the four different sauces that are made at the Smoke Shack. The brisket had a nice smoke ring and with a very good smoked meat flavor. She chose the chips to accompwny her sammich and they were fabulous as well. Not sure what took us so long to get here, but it won't take that long to get back.

    (5)

  • Erin P.

    One word: A-maz-ing. So first of all, you smell the smoking any time you walk or drive by. Beware! I love the look and the staff is friendly and completely unpretentious. You can tell they love what they do, which will always improve a restaurant experience, which I appreciate. We have eaten at Smoke Shack a few times now, and have started to bring friends when they visit. One thing I have noticed is comments on the prices -- I get it, but you can seriously tell the difference in the quality of meat when you taste it. Everyone I have dined with agrees this is not your average pulled pork, chicken, etc. Another friend who is a self-proclaimed rib expert says the same, good meat costs more. And it's worth it. The place is small, so be prepared to wait and get cozy with your neighbors -- all in the name of great BBQ!

    (5)

  • Geoffrey R.

    One of the best places in town to get some decent BBQ. Whenever i have family visiting, i take them here.

    (5)

  • Sarah H.

    For someone who doesn't really LOVE BBQ, this place was great. We arrived late on a weeknight, so it was not crowded. Sat at a high table (I did not see any regular short tables in the pretty small space) which I normally don't like (as a shorter person). Some people were sitting outside at tables as well as it was quite warm. The smell hits you as soon as you walk in and makes the place feel authentic. The bartender greeted us and was super friendly and answered our initial questions. Tried the pulled chicken sandwich which was very delicious and tender, but could have been hotter (same with the sweet potato fries I got on the side). Their sauces are all served on the side which I guess is typical. I thought this was great because then you could try all 4. Also, love that they serve SMART chicken (organic, free range, humanely handled). My buddy (who does LOVE BBQ) had the ribs, which unfortunately, were not as delicious. They were pretty small, dry, and expensive. I really wanted to try the wings, but they were out of those as well as 1 other thing we asked for on the menu. Wish we would've been told what was 86'd when we sat down, so I didn't have to change my order on the fly. Alas, still yummy.

    (3)

  • Berni X.

    I've been telling the same story over and over that I am not a BBQ fan. WOW! Smoke Shack made me a believer again! Hands down the best Baby Back ribs I've EVER eaten! And, the best sweet potato fries...they melt in your mouth! If you haven't yet checked it out, you MUST go! Seriously, you won't regret it. :)

    (5)

  • Angel A.

    We will for sure be going back to the Smoke Shack! The atmosphere was really nice, the service was great and the menu is really awesome! Fresh meat, no hormones, antibiotics how awesome is that!!! We had the pulled pork and the chicken. They were both really good, I think the pulled pork was a grand slam! One you may get a craving for.... The different sauces were really good also, nice to have options that one enjoys! The general manager came over to see how our meal was chatted with us for a minute, which was a nice change. The staff was all very informative, very friendly, and very pleasant! Some places people seem to be so miserable, you will not get that here which is so refreshing! Thumbs up in all categories.

    (4)

  • Scott B.

    I've had BBQ in Kansas City, Memphis, Texas and North Carolina - both at restaurants and at various BBQ competitions. I have to say that the pulled pork is the best I've had. Perfectly smoked, you could truly taste the meat and the smoke. I love that the sauce is served on the side. We also had Mac & Cheese which is worth all of the calories it must contain. You'll want to stuff your pockets full of the corn bread. It is the best thing since sliced.... corn bread. The environment is so unique. This is a place you'll want to take out of town guests to. It is energetic, fun, busy and exactly what a BBQ joint should be. I can't wait to go back and try the ribs. Great job Smoke Shack!!

    (5)

  • Kevin S.

    I don't consider myself a BBQ aficionado by any means, but I do like a good smoked meat. Having been to several in the area and while traveling, I do have to say that the Smoke Shack has it right. I have eaten there several times and each time has been exceptional. I especially enjoy the pulled pork and ribs. Be aware though - the ribs are in limited supply and only available after 5 pm currently (as it was explained to me, this is due to SS buying the whole hog). But each time I have gone I've always found something else to satisfy me if they are out. Try the nachos - pulled pork with fresh tomatoes, jalepenos (not the canned pickled variety) topped with Texas sauce and cream sauce. And for dessert - three words: Whiskey Ice Cream. Trust me you will not go away hungry (or eat the next day)!

    (5)

  • Minda R.

    Excellent pulled pork and the bacon bourbon brownie was amazing! Excellent service too.

    (4)

  • Eric M.

    Is this place awesome or what??? The whole theme is deep south blues and bbq. This is definitely more of a manly kinda place, but the females in my party loved it too. I am reminded of one of my old friends from the South who I invited to a "barbeque" back when I lived in NYC. He rebuked, "now what I call bbq and what you call bbq are different. Are you having a real bbq or are you just hanging out grillin' stuff?" The Smoke Shack would make my friend happy. I started with the chili, which was more or less a soup but tasted out of this world. Then came the meat combo platter with beef brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, and a spiced sausage. They give you four sauces from different regions of the country.... House, Kansas City, Carolina, and Texas. All were out of this world. To finish... bacon brownies with a scoop of ice-cream. All of this was only 20 bucks with the prix fixe. No way! The cocktails were cool too. Make sure to pick up the sheet of paper at each table which tells you how to figure out your blues name based on your initials. Hilarious! Sincerely, ~Mississippi T-Bone Pickens.

    (5)

  • Michael M.

    I have had Brisket in Texas,and parts south. and have found a haven in Milwaukee,,,, it's The Smoke Shack.... they do the right thng by the beef and pork here. and with better than half a dozen sauce's to choose from, you are in for a treat. the only issue I can see, the don't have baked beans. that can be forgiven, they are working to develop a workable recipe... you can get your BBQ fix right here.

    (5)

  • Austin H.

    Seriously amazing. The meat was smoked to perfection. The best part about the sauces, besides the fact that they're all delicious, is you don't have to choose. The interior is well decorated too.

    (5)

  • Amanda B.

    Overall, definitely a fun dinner and experience! It's such an adorable little place in the middle of tall buildings nestled in the Third Ward. Clearly they went to a great deal of trouble to enhance this aspect and it shows! Our group of 3 sat at a table designed for 6. They immediately informed us that they do a more community seating concept, and that they may seat others with us during out dinner. At first, it was a little off-putting, but really? Have some fun with it! Or, come in groups of 4 or 6 so you don't have to worry about it. Now onto the food...we ordered the Kansas City Egg rolls and the Rib tips, upon recommendation of our waiter. The egg rolls were fantastic. The Rib tips weren't our group's favorite. Part of it is that they were incredibly difficult to eat and part of it was that we'd never had rib tips before. Therefore, we cannot really say whether their version was adequate or outstanding because we may just not be rib tip people in general. However, later in the meal, around 6 p.m. we heard our waiter say that they were sold out of the rib tip appetizer. So, if that is any indication, then we clearly have a poor palate. For dinner we shared the four meat combo. The chicken was extremely juicy and wonderful. The pulled pork and brisket were favorites of the table. The sausage was delicious, but definitely on the spicy side. Spice lovers, enjoy! We shared a side of macaroni and cheese and the sweet potato fries. I have not always loved sweet potato fries (and I am a fry lover!) but these were fantastic! Skinny and crispy and wonderful! The Mac and Cheese was also delicious and I would absolutely recommend it! We even opted to try dessert (though none of us were that hungry). However, we were not disappointed and it was worth every cent, calorie, and bite! We split the seasonal fruit crumble (pear and raspberry) and the pecan pie. All I can say...yum! My god, I would love to go back on a hot summer day, sit outside on their patio with a Spotted Cow and those two desserts. I'd spend all night there and annoy the waitstaff just ordering these desserts over and over again. All in all, a must try!

    (5)

  • Doug M.

    Excellent BBQ with house smoked meats. I had the house made sausage and brisket with a side of creamy coleslaw and cornbread. Absolutely delicious. The choice of sauces is great and the service was very friendly. My only disappointment is that I won't be able to bring my wife there as she would not be able to sit on the stools for that long without messing up her back.

    (4)

  • Matt P.

    This is my second review of Smoke Shack, and my third visit. Since my first review, I'd been back twice and wanted to give a more broad review of their menu. Earlier this week I went in for lunch, and had the brisket sandwich and an order of fries on the side. I was at first hesitant to try something like this because (historically) most of the sandwich filling winds up on the plate when I've tried similar style sandwiches at other places. What I got was three (or four?) nice and thick slices of brisket on a good sized, steamed bun. It's a small touch, but worth noting that the bun was steamed just enough to be warm, without making the bun a soggy, easily torn, gummy mess. I could pick this sandwich (which had plenty of heft from the brisket) in one hand, and it didn't flop around. Like, I said, a small touch, but impressive. The brisket was very good. Tender, a touch of the smoke flavor, a touch of some brine flavor. Fat and juices were melty and kept everything moist. I gave a small squirt of the Texas sauce to it, and just slowly enjoyed this sandwich till the last bite. And it's worth noting that the bun-to-meat ratio is perfect. I didn't end with more meat than bun, or more bun than meat at the end. Nice job, guys. On the third trip, I went with two other guests. We each got something different. All told, we sampled the sausage, the brisket, the rib combo, the mac & cheese, and the leeks. I knew what to expect from the brisket and wasn't disappointed this time, either. The sausage was a surprise hit. Snappy, juicy, and an after-kick of peppers that really took me by surprise. Which isn't to say it was spicy-hot, but the peppers were so bold that when the flavor hits you, it was almost like a challenge to snap into another bite. The leeks I was very impressed with. I didn't know what to expect, but I was truly floored. Creamy, and a bite of something else I can't figure out. Like a tart/savory something that comes out after the tongue registers the creaminess. One of the people I was with suggested they could maybe be cut smaller, but had no reservations with the taste and flavor. The mac and cheese is some of the best I've had. I'm not sure which 4 cheeses they use, but I was so very pleased with the way that I couldn't really pick out one cheese that overpowered the rest. I know some places will get a really strong cheese in there or maybe one that melts a little more oily - but Smoke Shack picked a blend that is rich, smooth, and stays just below becoming sharp. And lastly, the rib combo. The beef ribs are some of the best ribs I think I have ever eaten. I use the words tender and juicy for almost everything here, but you can't escape it. Fork tender, but not so much that it's a mush. Simply put, I haven't had beef ribs in this town that can come close. The baby back and the spare ribs have what I call "balanced tenderness". These are not the kind of ribs that will fall off of a bone. These are the kind of ribs you will chew off the bone. There's a mouth feel in this that makes you really have to bite, chew, and savor the flavor profiles in the meat and the prepwork done in the act of smoking it. And I'm not even getting into the whiskey ice cream. Just trust me, and do yourself a favor and get some. The bottom line for Smoke Shack is that so much of what they serve up hits some sort of sense memory to younger days and family cookouts. I've read reviews where some balk at the price or the number of bones in their slab of ribs. To me, it boils down to this: You can get some eleven or twelve bone slab that's boiled, and has a lot of fat and gristle at a lot of places. And you'll pay maybe twenty bucks for it. At Smoke Shack, you're going to get a high quality meat, in portions that will leave you full, with sides; and pay a few dollars more for that better meat. Now, to me, it's more than just the food. I'm paying for the food, the Texas blues on the sound system, the attention to detail, the camaraderie of a staff that will actually eat at the place they work and give you recommendations - not because they have to push an item but because they actually love that item - and for the atmosphere. To me, I'm paying for an evening; for an overall experience.

    (5)

  • Jaron K.

    Having spent many years living in the South, I was a little weary about an authentic Barbecue joint this far North, but Smoke Shack did not disappoint! The staff was very friendly and accommodating, which only made my food more enjoyable! I was pleased to see that Smoke Shack only used dry rubs on their meats and allowed for customers to sauce their own food. The meat is complimented by an assortment of sides from sweet potato fies, to candied bacon, even a mess of greens! Some people have had a negative perspective of Smoke Shack running out of ribs, but this confuses me, wouldn't you rather have fresh food? Can't wait for warmer weather when we can eat here on the patio!

    (5)

  • Dmitry B.

    Best BBQ I've had in Milwaukee. You can't go wrong with the pulled pork or brisket!

    (5)

  • Jim R.

    When I heard the owner's of AJ Bombers were opening a new joint it was going to be a BBQ joint, I got pretty excited. Sadly, I was out of town for opening day, bit I did manage to make it in last Friday evening. So, I think that put them on their 3rd or 4th day of operation. That's why I bumped them from a 4 star to a 5 start to allow for the fact that the couple mistakes were corrected quickly and I suspect this place will only get better with time. We'd been at an afterwork party a few doors down when we all decided it was dinner time - around 9:00pm. There's a little warning in that statement. Smoke Shack is a small joint with one smoker and you have to smoke everything ahead of time. If you get busy, or really busy as they've been, you run out of food by 9:00pm. Everyone in our group of 6 managed to find something that appealed to them and was still available. I had the smoked sausage with a side or fried corn on the cob. Loved both and the cornbread side was as tasty as any I've ever had. I also got a taste of my wife's mac and cheese side that was quite frankly to die for. Overall, food quality in my opinion was awesome. Prices seemed fair and the service was good as well. My wife had leftovers that she asked to be boxed and oppsie, they threw them away instead. No problem, the manager gave her a card good for the same entree free next time we come in. That's what I mentioned earlier. Mistakes were made but quickly and properly corrected. For a less than 50 seat restaurant, I can't see how they could do it any better. Don't think of this as 5 star dining but as 5 star BBQ. Oh, and I can't wait for summer when we will be able to dine outside! And not on the sidewalk, but instead on a patio to the side of the restaurant. Oh wait, almost forgot. Desert. Leave room for desert. :)

    (5)

  • Mike C.

    After wandering the 3rd Ward and wondering where that amazing smoke smell was coming from, we recently stumbled into this joint. It looks like they used a lot of salvage wood for the decor, and it makes a really neat interior. We were seated at the bar quickly, and started off with a Maple-Sweetened Old Fashioned. I'm not a huge fan of Jim Beam, but it was a good drink. They also have a large selection of Tall Boys (big beers) and some other beverages. I had the brisket sandwich, which was very enjoyable. The house BBQ sauce is my favorite, but they offer 4 or 5 styles. The slaw was great, and I subbed out the fries for mixed roasted seasonal veggies, which were delicious. Price is what you'd expect for a decent BBQ place, and service was excellent. If I had one gripe it was that the brisket had some fat on some edges and could have had more bark, but it was still very enjoyable. It'll definitely make it into the restaurant rotation.

    (4)

  • Kate S.

    We just returned from a victorious brunch experience. Scratch made cinnamon rolls; so yummy and delicious. We shared the burnt ends benedict and the pulled pork benedict; both were out of this world. The eggs were cooked brilliantly with a delightfully runny center. Meals like this are why I could never be a vegetarian. Thank you Smoke Shack, for giving me a new favorite brunch spot.

    (5)

  • Carie W.

    Had really looked forward to a good BBQ place opening in the area and unfortunately this was not it. Low quality, cramped space and high priced. Not sure what BBQ most people are used to eating but all I can say is, Yuk!

    (1)

  • Dennis J.

    I finally had the opportunity to visit the Smoke Shack this weekend (2/18/2012) and was throughly impressed. It is very hard to find GREAT BBQ, minus some chain restaurants and the occasional menu item around Milwaukee. In short, the food was amazing and is hands-down the best BBQ joint in town. I ordered the Four-Meat combo that included chicken, pulled pork, brisket and sausage. While the pulled pork was my favorite, everything was so tasty. The order definitely could feed two people, or make for great leftovers. The side of mac & cheese was very good and I highly recommend taking some of the pork and dipping it into the cheese sauce. The cornbread was sweet and rich, just as it should be. Since the Smoke Shack uses a dry rub on all of their meats you are left with the choice of four options for your sauce. Being very picky about sauce on my foods I must say I was beyond pleasantly surprised. All four taste great. Not being a mustard fan I didn't necessarily care for the Carolina Gold. On the flip side, the other three were great and I couldn't get enough of the Kansas City sauce. It has such a great smokey flavor and a nice bite. Lets put it this way. My girlfriend says she can't even get me to moan this much at home...that's how great the food was. I really can not wait to go back and could easily eat there three times a day for a week. Yes, it's that good. The Smoke Shack does not take reservations, so I would recommend arriving early. Additionally the seating is better suited to groups of 3-4 or more. So if possible, take your friends.

    (5)

  • Erin P.

    Seriously...hands down the best polish sausage I've had in a long, long, time. I typically hold any smoke house or BBQ to standards you can only find at places like the Salt Lick (out side of Austin). We been here now a few times and I do love the flavor of the food and the menu options. I have been oh so very happy here with the exception of one little thing... the temperature of the food. I totally, totally get the smoke process, don't get me wrong. But if I could change anything here it would the temp in which the food is served. I want it HOTTER not luke-warm. I have eaten BBQ and Smoke'd all over this great country TC, NC, TN, AL, MS and more... I know it can be done. I wish they would do it here. That being said, I really do like this joint. Great vibe, fun atmosphere, service is on and all the flavor is there ( I just want my food served a little warmer, did I mention that?) Go and throw down, y'all. A quick PS: none of my cronies have every taken issue with the temperature of the food so admittedly it may just be my very own preference. Keep up the great work Smoke Shack!

    (4)

  • Matthew R.

    Like BBQ? Even a little??? If you haven't been in here yet you aren't really living. Barbeque done slow and low, and just right in their smoker. Meat done with dry rubs so the meat is the star. You choose your own BBQ sauce (several options) at the table if you'd like. Sides are incredible, and even better? The dessert. Goodness gracious, the decadence. So, so good!!!

    (5)

  • Michelle S.

    The Smoke Shack is quickly becoming one of my favorite restaurants in Milwaukee! I love that I can get BBQ in seitan form! The seitan sandwich is excellent with tangy BBQ sauce and arugula. Also, you can add mac 'n cheese as a side (which is really good). Add the best sweet tea I've had since moving here from NC and it's one of my favorite meals in MKE! I wouldn't suggest it as purely a bar though, since they don't have any taps. Awesome place for lunch or dinner!

    (5)

  • Anne B.

    One thing was very clear based on my experience at Smoke Shack: the Sorges take great care with every detail of every dish -- in fact, the vibe I had throughout the entire visit was that nothing was hurried or 'just because', everything done with collaboration and care... the feeling that everything that came to our table and everything that surrounded us was created with the intention to delight the customer was definitely in the air. I was comfortable, satisfied, and impressed. What I ate: Candied bacon - Imagine your bacon with brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. BACON! Carmelized, delicious, drool-worthy, drop dead amazing bacon. I tried the wings - real -- not boneless -- juicy, yum. I got busted eating them with a knife and fork and nearly got kicked out of the joint! Kidding, but this is definitely the kind of place where you can just dig right in. Then I tried some of the brisket and sausage from my friend's sampler plate. Sausage was spicy, brisket was juicy. My favorite thing ever is that you can add your own sauce. I love adding sauce! I'm a condiment-holic, I swear. So, I had fun sampling a bit from each bottle. My favorite has to be the House sauce, with the Carolina a close second (vinegar+mustard). If I wasn't full enough from all that - I then received my order of a pulled pork sammich. By that time I was so full that I just ate the meat from the sandwich, with bits of cornbread - YUM! The coleslaw wasn't fussy, but it was definitely a quality embellishment to my dish. And the 'decadent' mac n' cheese from my friend's plate blew my mind. Kind of makes you close your eyes for a minute and enjoy your indulgence. Then I had the nerve to order dessert. How could I not? The whiskey ice cream was my choice, because I didn't think I'd have room in my belly for any solid food at that point. Tell you what - I don't drink, so with my low tolerance, I think that ice cream left me with a buzz! A cold, sweet, creamy buzz. It most certainly had a whiskey bite to it that was delicious and kind of indescribable. The Purple Door people really delivered with that creation. The service was attentive and honest, the decor was completely authentic. I felt like I was dining somewhere that had been there for years upon years. And the theme of painstaking detail and care permeated throughout the place. I don't think this is an everyday or every week indulgence, but when you do visit - you will feel spoiled by southern hospitality and delicious home-cooked decadence. They're right - good IS good.

    (5)

  • Bob D.

    Ordered carry out last week to my office next door. I had the beef brisket sandwich, with the home made chips and the cole slaw. People use the term "melt in your mouth" quite liberally when describing food. This WAS MIYM! I barely had to chew as this was the most tender piece of meat I think I've ever eaten. Of course, slow cooking/smoking it for 13 hours will do that. I've come to the conclusion that all things considered, SS is a bit spendy. The food is beyond amazing, but if you're looking for "cheap eats" this isn't it. That being said, I think the SS is well on it's way to being Milwaukee carnivores favorite hang out---Yes I know they have several great vegetarian options, but in my humble opinion: What's the point!?

    (4)

  • H C.

    First I want to thank my fellow Yelpers for writing reviews and giving me a heads up on the "sitting with random people" experience. I went in last night (Tuesday at 530pm) expecting it not to be busy, hoping I could get a table alone. Immediately I noticed one table of 4 and one table of 2. The rest of the place was empty. The conversation with the hostess went something like this: Her: Would you like to sit inside or outside Me: Inside Please Her: OK, Well I have immediate seating at the bar, otherwise you can follow me this way. Me: (Me a bit confused as to what that meant said:) Ummmm......I don't want to sit at a table with people that I don't know. Her: Well, then maybe you should just sit at the bar. So, we did. With a restaurant full of open tables, we sat at the bar so that we didn't interrupt the meal of the couple that was seated alone, and so we could have a private conversation about work that no one else needed to listen to. I am not a huge fan of eating dinner at the bar (especially when our bill for 2 people came to $77, but I wanted to try the food and it was the best of 2 evils) I had looked at the menu a few weeks ago to see what their gluten free option where. They do have a gluten free symbol on their menu, but it is a bit confusing. Some items are labeled gluten free, but their meats and sauces aren't except for the chicken wings under the appetizers. So, through Twitter I was able to find out that all of their meats and sauces are gluten free, but it isn't labeled on the menu. If you are going to take the time to label things gluten free, it would be nice if the entire menu was consistent, otherwise it doesn't really help. I had the pulled pork and the food was Delicious!! I would definitely go back, if getting seated without other people wasn't such a big deal. I don't want to always try and bring 4 people with me just to solve that problem.

    (3)

  • Amanda W.

    1. Great atmosphere 2. Delicious food 3. Friendly service staff I went in for lunch and really enjoyed the experience. The beverage/cocktail list was fun. The server suggested a locally brewed beer that I had never had before and it was really fantastic, and complemented the tastes of the BBQ. We ordered fried green tomatoes for an appetizer; they were done perfectly. Our main dishes were ample and delicious. Interesting selection of BBQ sauces as well. I will be going back.

    (4)

  • Justin N.

    Great food. If I could make one suggestion it would be to get there early and try the Kansas City Egg-rolls.

    (4)

  • Josh P.

    I'll keep it short and sweet - It was a cramped, awkward space. The BBQ was good, but not great. The prices were too high for what you were getting. I won't bother stopping by again.

    (2)

  • Scott B.

    Funky old shack, excellent barbecue, friendly service, and blues music. How can you go wrong? You can't at The Smoke Shack. Stopped in for lunch after the crowd so I had no trouble finding a seat inside. Had a brisket sandwich with house-made chips and slaw. And a Diet Coke served in a mason jar. Nice touch. I've had BBQ in Kansas City, Memphis, Texas, and most other famous spots. Never expected good BBQ in Milwaukee. But here it is! I'll be back! One minor issue. Although I appreciate the linen napkins, they really need to talk to their linen supplier because I walked away with a lap full of lint.

    (4)

  • Steve G.

    Four of us made to Smoke Shack last night. Knowing about the long waits and the small setting, we got there at about 5:00 to beat the rush. There was no wait, but by the time we left, there was a 45 minute wait. Make sure you plan accordingly! The ambiance is very cool. It reminds me of a mine shaft with its rustic, dark look and neat lighting fixtures. The service, beginning to end was excellent. There were 3-4 people who constantly made sure plates didn't sit long or water glasses weren't empty. Our waitress was extremely friendly, explained things well, and had good recommendations. On to the food... --We all got old fashioneds as a cocktail. They were solid but very overpriced at $9-10. --We got the pulled pork nachos as an appetizer, which were fabulous. -- I had the brisket for the main course. It was solid, and the sauces you apply yourself are really unique and tasty -- my favorite was the Texas BBQ. Three of us got the brisket and were pleased but not wowed; my wife got the spare ribs and thought they were ok, but a bit dry and pretty light on the meat. -- We shared the Purple Door Whiskey Ice Cream, which was amazing. I'd strongly recommend that to anyone who comes here. For a first impression, I think the Smoke Shack is a neat place with quality food. I struggle with the price to quality ratio, especially for the main course. It was solid, but not the best BBQ I've had in town. For a comparison, the Silver Spur in Elm Grove remains my favorite in the area. We were happy to have no wait, but then again, we got there super early. I think we all would have gotten annoyed having to endure a sizable wait -- plus there is no good place to stand around in the meantime. The bar would be ideal, but it was packed and there isn't a lot of open space to mill around it. I imagine things will be different in summer, where standing outside is possible. I'm interested in trying it for lunch, since the lunch prices look reasonable.

    (3)

  • Jax B.

    I visited the Smoke Shack again. We had a group of three for dinner. We were told by the hostess that we could not be seated until our entire party was there. The hostess was not remotely nice about this. She was rude our entire visit. So we bellied up to the bar on their uncomfortable stools to wait for our third member. She arrived about five-ten minutes later, and by then the side tables were gone and they wanted to sit us next to some random people at a longer community-type table. We explained that we would really like a booth or side table when one becomes available. We were happy to wait for better seating. The hostess said that we were only allowed to sit at the community-type table or the front booth, because the other tables were for 5-6 people only. So we waited for the booth. I would've stuck it out on the stools if she would have sat us at a side table right away, but instead she made us wait. This place is good for parties of 6 and that is pretty much it. If you want to have a meal with a smaller group (2-4), you might be stuck sitting right next to other diners. Food is good, drinks are pricey, hostess is not friendly... You should bring 5 other people with you so you can actually enjoy the good food comfortably.

    (3)

  • Phil M.

    We were very impressed with Smoke shack, i read the review in The Shepherd, although the prices seemed high we thought we'd give it a shot. It was a lot smaller than i was expecting inside, its very cozy and has a country cabin feel to it. A few big booths, and some high top tables and bar seating. We were sat at a large high top table, which we shared with a few other couples. This surprised me and seemed to surprise others that came too. There was plenty of room though. The servers were very attentive, and explained all of the sauce options. Most of the BBQ come with no sauce, there are 4 or 5 sauces on your table to put on yourself. All had really different flavors and all were tasty. I had the baby back ribs and my wife had the pulled pork. They both were amazing. Both came with cornbread and a side. I had the mac and cheese, which was rich and creamy ( i could have had a full plate of that on its own). And my wife had grilled corn on the cob, which was refreshingly different. The napkins stood out to me for some reason, seems like such an obvious thing for a BBQ place to have some good cloths for wiping your hands on. But this is the first time Ive seen it. We'll be going back, probably in the summer to check out the outdoor deck.

    (4)

  • M M.

    I went with my boyfriend on their opening Saturday night. We were EXTREMELY lucky to get two seats on their community rail right as we came in. It was extremely cozy but bearable. I am not a fan of communal seating and I get that this is more common these days but I prefer a table or a booth to me and my dinner companions. We really enjoyed our meal while at the Shack. My boyfriend got the 1/2 chicken which he enjoyed so much that he got every little bite of meat off of the bones! I had the pulled pork which was cooked pretty perfect. I enjoyed experimenting with the sauces but didn't fall in love with one. The sides were tasty. Funnily enough, my boyfriend and I switched sides as we both liked each other's better. I had gotten the sweet potato fries which were good and he got the mac and cheese. I love a good mac and cheese and I appreciated the Smoke Shack's different take on it from what I am used to. My boyfriend LOVED the sweet potato fries and he doesn't even like them typically. A great restaurant worth trying out!

    (4)

  • Katie K.

    What a fantastic addition to the Milwaukee restaurant scene! The variety and options available for BBQ lovers is outstanding: from ribs, pulled pork and chicken, to sausage and brisket the flavor combos are endless! Multiple sauces are provided at each table to dress your plate however you wish. Looking for something on the lighter side: Vegetarian options are available too, in addition to gluten-free items. Many side dishes are offered, and are the perfect companion to a smaller lunch. The atmosphere is warm, fun, and just plain awesome. While the space is small and authentic (it's designed to be small, it's a "off to the side of the road shack" after all) it doesn't feel so cramped you can't move around or are uncomfortable. This time, I sat at the bar and the service was what I would expect at the beginning of the lunch time rush. Kudos to the staff, who made me feel welcome. Attention to detail is the major artery of this eatery - it's evident in the food, decor and service. I'd expect nothing less from the Sorges and their crew. The Smoke Shack is going to be one popular place for a long time to come. Well done!

    (5)

  • Christophor R.

    I was torn between 2 and 3 stars but finally settled on Meh because that's how I felt once I walked away and analyzed it. First off, the meat, which should be the star of the show, subsequently needs to doused in sauce to make it edible. I had the Carolina pulled pork sandwich which they say is cooked for 13 hours - maybe 2 hours too long. Once bitten into the meat turned into a glue-like paste in the mouth which completely ruined the meat texture. On top of that, it was fairly bland making it require a sauce. Of the 5 sauces available, one tasted and looked like simply watered down mustard, one wasn't nearly as hot as should should have been and the house sauce was bland. So I ended up making my own by mixing three of their five into one that had an even flavor profile and some kick in the back end. The kettle chips that accompanied my sandwich were wishy-washy. some were perfectly crisp while others were moist and chewy. My friend ordered the brisket which held up slightly better in the texture department but was also on the plain side for me. The sweet potato fries that came with that sandwich were fairly tasty and well-prepared. The beer list seems like it was hastily thrown together by drunk frat boys who stared at the walk-in cooler at Pick N Save for too long, in other words, simply a random assortment of beers thrown together without rhyme or reason. At $11.50-13.50 per sandwich ordered I felt somehow cheated in the end and hence why it got the Meh, 2-star rating. We sat outside but had to walk through the interior with a hostess to be seated out there, and interior that was dark and slightly claustrophobic in feel. One final note, the servers were highly attentive, personable and the major positive during the whole experience. Too bad the food couldn't stand up to their sparkling servers.

    (2)

  • Chris R.

    Best BBQ i have ever had. Highly recommend the Ribs. They have a Rib combo which comes with each type they serve. Get there Early though as they are likely to run out of certain items.

    (5)

  • Wisco V.

    Totally mediocre food, small portions, and community tables with long waits. I'd heard great things about this place, and I won't be back.

    (1)

  • Paul H.

    Got a half rack of baby back ribs for takeout last night with mac & cheese and sweet potato fries. This is the 3rd time I've had the ribs and I think they get better every time I go there. Easy to rip apart, but not fall off the bone. Crispy bark on the outside and juicy meat on the inside. Cooked perfectly. Couldn't ask for it any better. Mac & cheese is really good and filling. Sweet potato fries were really good as well. I use the Kansas City bbq sauce which is good, but it's a little too smoky for me. I think this is a molasses based sauce. I'd like to see one more sauce added to their array that is more vinegar based (red sauce). Other than that, I'm a happy customer and will continue to head to Smoke Shack when I'm in need of a BBQ fix. Keep up the good work.

    (5)

  • Doug F.

    Great flavor on the rib tips, but not many and not very much meat. Corn chowder had very little corn. Overall not that great of a meal, but we will try it again for baby backs next time.

    (3)

  • Steven W.

    I'm a big fan of Barbeque and hardly ever have it unless I am back home in Texas or I make it myself. The girlfriend heard about this place so we decided to try it out tonight. The interior has a great look that definitely fits the theme they are going for. It is quite cramped but not small enough where we had to wait more than twenty-minutes. We were seated against the front window on the bar-style table. It would be awesome if there was a bar under the table that you can put your feet on instead of just the bar-stool. Anyway, to the important part: the food. We ordered the pulled pork with coleslaw and the brisket with macaroni and cheese. While waiting we tried out all of the sauces you can choose from on the table. I like that they have variation: the Kansas and House were the better of the four. The food came out pretty quick which was awesome. To my instant displeasure both meats were dry. I understand why they do not put any sauce on it, but a big part of the enjoyment of eating barbeque is the juiciness of the meat. It must be because they use 'higher quality meat' with less fat. The brisket had too much dry rub on it where it overpowered the meat, which might be a problem solved if it was juicier. The pulled pork was fine. One of the good things I heard about this place was the Mac & Cheese, but it was average. It reminds me of Stacked's mac and cheese, with less cheese. I did not partake in the coleslaw, but the girlfriend said it was decent. No beer on tap is a bummer. Maybe one of these days. The biggest killer to me was the price of the brisket and the brisket itself. I really was expecting for some mouth-watering brisket at that price point, but was sadly mistaken. I'd be afraid to risk the price of a rack of ribs. Overall, the meat and sides were average at best. Price knocks off a star. I'd give it 2.5 stars if Yelp would let me.

    (2)

  • Jane S.

    I'm probably not the typical Smoke Shack customer because when I go to restaurants, I order salads 99% of the time. I've had the Smoke Shack salad three times now - once with a big crowd from work, once at the bar, and once as a to go order. It is now on my list of favorite salads in the city. The chicken is tender, bacon is delicious, and the greens are fresh. I liked it best when I used the honey mustard dressing and some blue cheese dressing. My companion ordered the Mess 'o Greens, and they were naughty yummy. The atmosphere in the restaurant is cozy, I've had great service, and I can't wait to try the new patio.

    (5)

  • Toni S.

    I've eaten here a few times now & I've been raised on sloppy sauce BBQ & this is a dry rub w/ separate add your own sauce, so when I say that I Love the BBQ here, I mean it! The menu is creative & well thought out but most of all....Tasty! All the meats are done perfectly! I've no complaints & can't wait to come back.

    (4)

  • Carol H.

    A few weeks ago a coworker suggested we go to the Smoke Shack. I was thrilled as a friend of mine weeks earlier suggested I go as well. I went during the work week around noon. It was very busy and seating is limited so we opted to sit at the bar. The bar tender was super helpful and very friendly. I ordered the Carolina pulled pork sandwich with the kettle chips. It was delicious! Just the right amount of smokey for me. I cannot wait to return!!!

    (4)

  • Heather K.

    Walking in the smell is amazing! That combined with the building itself (the name doesn't mislead) put me and my lunch companion into the mood for some barbeque. On a Saturday at noon, there was no wait for a table for two when we arrived. One thing that is only a quirk for me is the ridiculously high stools for a short person with short legs... that bummed me out. It's a small place -- one that will certainly benefit from the additional outdoor seating when the weather improves. Before I talk about my food, I should note: I have family in North Carolina and am a bit of a pulled pork snob, or at least I have my preconceptions of how I like my pork. The service was accommodating and pleasant. Beverages are served in Mason jars, which I thought was a nice touch. For appetizer, we ordered the candied bacon, which came with a heaping of sweet potato fries. The bacon itself was good. Heavily smoked and coated with a brown sugar and honey glaze. A couple of the slices were more on the burnt side of barbequed sadly. The sweet potato fries gave us a good avenue to try each of the 4 barbeque sauces. My favorite was the House sauce. It was sweet and spicy enough for me. My partner liked the Kansas City sauce, which I found a tad too sweet. The Carolina mustard sauce was quite good, as well. A good bite. Good flavor. After the bacon, I was actually starting to get full. I ordered a pulled chicken sandwich that came with more of the sweet potato fries, which was a-ok with me. My partner ordered the pulled pork entree that we agreed to share. His came with kettle chips and a huge chunk of cornbread. His pulled pork was quite delicious -- the only thing that bummed me out was that it didn't have the slice of white bread underneath the meat. I love that part -- covered in juice and just another way to eat more barbeque sauce. My partner loved the kettle chips. They were crunchy and well seasoned. The cornbread is sweet, which I know it an area of contention. I prefer it sweet. This was wonderfully moist and light, which seemed more like yellow cake. Not that I'm complaining. One thing I need to note, and that my partner kept pointing out, was that it's quite expensive. He got a Sprecher root beer which was a can for $3.50. That bugged him. It was an expensive lunch. (I am more than willing to pay more for humanely raised meat, but not for root beer.) We'll go back. There are a few more menu items I need to try. I wish I had room for the bacon bourbon brownies. Sad face. Overall, if you like barbeque, this is a fantastic place to get it in Milwaukee. I did miss the clientele and the people watching of a Southern barbeque joint.

    (3)

  • Christopher M.

    Had the pulled pork - I agree with others who have said that they need to work on pulling out the chunks of fat and gristle. Otherwise, it was good. Cozy atmosphere that seems perfect for a snowy or rainy day.

    (4)

  • Jeff W.

    BBQ in Milwaukee? You better believe it...would you, could you in a shack? You better really believe it! After having AJ Bombers as my go to MKE spot for the past 2 years, I was thrilled to hear of the shack opening, and it does not disappoint-lean tasty brisket, ribs and they do mac n cheese right as well-look forward to teh summer and the huge outdoor deck.

    (5)

  • Dawn A.

    I had really high hopes for this place, being a BBQ lover. Instead, my general feeling was "eh" when we left. It was extremely busy the night I went, which surprised me, as my husband and I arrived around 5:30pm on a Saturday. We squished ourselves near the bar, and luckily, we were able to snag 2 seats after about 30 minutes. We decided to eat right there as to not wait any longer. By this time, (6:00pm on a Saturday) the bartender informs us they are already out of ribs. Really? On a Saturday, early evening, you are already out? So we opted for the combo plate, and replaced the brisket for chicken. The sausage was great, but the chicken, I could have made that at home quite easily. The pork was extremely under seasoned. Both meats absolutely needed 1 or more of the 5 sauces at the table. Without, the meat was nothing special. We had braised leeks and cornbread as our sides, both totally outshined the meat in a major way. The leeks were very, very good. For dessert, we had the bacon brownie, which I thought was pretty good as well. Overall, I feel disappointed by this place. I would have expected more flavor and taste, but instead left underwhelmed. Maybe a sandwich would be better here, but if I go back, I would opt out of any dish that is just the meat. Just didn't do it for me.

    (2)

  • April A.

    I visited Smoke Shack this past Saturday evening and I have to say that I was quite disappointed. They did a great job with the feel of the restaurant and the food was good but they really need to work out the kinks, and fast before the lose patrons. The restaurant was jam packed on Saturday, to be expected. It took forever to get a table for 8, fine, but then the 8 of us were crammed into a table that was really meant for 6 people. Our waitress was flaky, forgetting our requests for drinks and no jalapenos on the nachos. She also didn't take any responsibility for the wrong-doings. Also, you apparently you have to get there right at dinner time to get ribs, otherwise they run out by 7pm. Prices: Yah, they are a little outrageous. This isn't Chicago....let's be reasonable here. $80 for BBQ dinner for 2? That's a little nuts. I completely understand that this is a new restaurant but first impressions are truly important. I don't think I'll be returning any time soon.

    (3)

  • Lauren D.

    Mmm...just finished my leftovers for lunch! I appreciated the wood decor--different from the typical Third Ward ambiance in a very good way. Had the pulled pork sandwich (amazing), the fried okra (batter could be a little lighter), and sampled mac and cheese (standard but good) and roast chicken (great flavor). I really liked that the sauces were all at the table so each person could choose and even mix sauces. I liked the Kansas City style best, but everyone I ate with had their own favorite. A tiny bit pricy for the amount of food you get, but that's pretty standard for the neighborhood.

    (4)

  • Armon N.

    Food is awesome! My favorite is the pulled pork and sweet potato fries. The cornbread is also a MUST

    (5)

  • Melanie B.

    We had a pretty good meal here the other night. We have been wanting to try out this place since it's inception considering my hubby and I LOVE BBQ. I was also a bit nervous, we are pretty critical when it come to BBQ, let's just say my husband knows his way around a Weber smoker. We have also had the pleasure of eating at some of the best BBQ joints in Texas. Basically, we know good BBQ when we see it (and no it doesn't come from Famous Daves!) First thing to note, is that this place gets-a-busy and it's teeny tiny. My hubby and I are like 80 year olds and do not mind eating dinner at like 4:30pm- when we arrived, we were seated and told we would have visitors joining us since they have community seating at all their tables. This was fine with us but to some it may be off-putting- just a heads up- you may have to eat with strangers. The decor is very cool- kitschy BBQ Shack without being too kitsch. If anyone had been to the bar prior to Smoke Shack, MJ's, you will be amazed at what the owners have done. They have completely transformed the space and I give them kudos for a job well done. When seated, we were told the ribs would not be done until 5pm, that was cool because it gave us an opportunity to really study the menu and have a drink-ski. I was REALLY impressed with the menu and the careful consideration for options- especially the vegetarian options, which I would like to try eventually. I was impressed to know that they only cook/smoke a certain amount of meat and when it's gone, it's gone. That is how it should be done. (Note: I was weary of the meat being reheated and inquired upon arrival when the meat got cookin'- the server was very good and assured me that someone got up very early to put those ribs on the smoker. Sold.) I ordered a half rack of ribs served with a side of corn bread and your choice of another side ($16). I got the side of winter root vegetables (this will be different in the summer obviously) and they were FABULOUS! Actually, they were the highlight of my meal. The ribs were good-- don't get me wrong- however they were a bit too tough for my liking. I like mine not falling off the bone but a little tenderness should be there and it wasn't. The flavor was good, dry rub and NO SAUCE. This is KEY to good BBQ, people. All that sauce just hides bad meat, in my opinion. Their in house-made sauces were good but I like to eat my meat naked! I would give the ribs another shot and hope they are more tender next time. My hubby had the brisket sammie and that came with a side choice- he got the sweet potato fries and they were AWESOME! Seriously, probably the best SP fries I've ever had. The brisket had a beautiful smoke ring indicating that it was smoked to perfection. mmmmMMMMMmmm....that business was good. Smoke Shack is a new place and are welcoming suggestions by giving out a comment card at the end of the meal. My suggestions: Smoked Prime Rib & more beer selection (right now they have a few canned options as well as some crafty cocktails). PS. That photo someone posted of the Purple Door Ice Cream (Whiskey flavor) and pecan pie looks TO DIE FOR....must get next time I'm there.

    (4)

  • Derek W.

    The best part of our meal was the sweet potato fries and kettle chips, so that isn't saying much. Every item on the menu is over priced for the serving size and quality that you get. The service definitely needs improvement, not to mention our waiter never brought our drinks and a condiment we asked for. The food wasn't horrible, but it didn't have much of a smoke flavor, there was more fat than meat, serving size is small, and the BBQ sauces need to be reconsidered. Glad we tried it, but we wont be back.

    (2)

  • Annemarie D.

    I couldn't wait to try this place because I am a BBQ fanatic. My ideal road trip is driving down to Memphis just to sample all the great BBQ down there. Now I don't have to drive so far. This place even has the look of the BBQ shacks down south. Seating is quite limited so be prepared to wait. It will be worth the wait though. I ordered the pulled pork with sweet potato fries. Both were fantastic. I can't wait to go back and try the ribs. They also have a great cocktail list. They lost a star because the roll seemed like it was just a Roundy's hamburger bun. And also because they seated us at a table with two frat boys. I prefer to not be part of their conversations especially while enjoying great BBQ.

    (4)

  • Kyle K.

    There are very few things that Milwaukee truly lacks so far as dining goes, and good barbecue is one of them. A few places have popped up in recent years, and despite the quality of a couple, none have really survived. I truly hope Smoke Shack bucks the trend, and after checking it out for lunch today I think it will. The space is really cool, with a ton of detail in the repurposed woodwork. I couldn't help but stare at some of the odd items on the wall. I have no idea what several of them are, but they were intriguing none the less. The food was great. I ordered the Roasted Poblano Corn Chowder, Pulled Pork Sammich and cornbread. The pork was awesome. I won't eat barbecue if it can't be eaten without a gallon of sauce, and my sandwich needed none. I'm really excited that they are offering a Carolina style sauce, because I've always been partial to the mustard and vinegar over tomato based sauces. Great stuff. Being among the most carnivorous of carnivores, I was surprised that the pork played second fiddle to the corn chowder. This stuff is ridiculous! Lightly spicy with bits of skin on potato and sweet corn. I also think I might be in love with the cornbread. So many places serve cornbread that has the consistency of aquarium gravel, but the Smoke Shack serves some of the best I've ever had. Slightly sweet, perfectly moist. Unsolicited advice: You might want to stop in during non lunch/dinner hours if possible. The restaurant is smallish and it's very possible you'll encounter a wait for a table (I waited about 10 minutes for a seat at the bar. No big deal.). They do have a patio with several tables so warmer weather will bring relief on this front. Until then, I'm adding the thought of barbecue and bourbon on that patio to my day dreams of warmer weather.

    (4)

  • Tom R.

    The food was really good, but be aware of what will be available when you go. We went at lunch time and there was allot of stuff that wasn't done yet, ribs, pulled pork, etc.

    (4)

  • Frankee B.

    Maybe we will come back in a year, if it's still there ! The service was good, but the pulled pork/chicken meat was luke warm. Not good if your eating pork, drinks were overpriced, this is not Chicago folks! This place is very small , maybe thats why they charge so much for drinks to make up for lack of guest. We were still hungry when we left..

    (1)

  • Tee G.

    I decided to try out Smoke Shack for an early dinner today; I've heard lots of good things about their food & drooled over the pictures they post on their Facebook page. I went a bit early & beat the dinnertime rush. It's a small casual place & they do communal seating, so if you don't beat the rush and/or have a large party, be prepared for a longer wait. Lots of folks who were waiting hung out by the bar; the crowd got quite large as the evening went on. They have some interesting looking drinks on the menu but this visit I didn't try any. For a nice added touch, they play rockin' authentic Blues tunes in the restaurant. The waitstaff was very cheery, & they do a thorough explanation of the menu if you've never eaten there before. I ordered the rib tips with house made kettle chips for an appetizer. Those kettle chips were DIVINE; I couldn't stop eating them. I figured I'd pace myself so that I could try a little bit of everything, but they were perfectly salted, crispy and chewy. (Few things are greater than a perfectly fried slice of potato.) The rib tips were a little smaller than what I'm used to, but meaty & spiced well with the dry rub. There are 4 bottles of sauce at the table for you to try on the meats, listed here in my order by favorite: Kansas City, Carolina Gold, Texas, House. I liked that they encourage you to mix/match & try them all. This is not a "be cute" type of restaurant- use your fingers & sop that tasty meat up in these sauces! For the entree I ordered the 4-meat sampler. You get brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken & sausage, plus a fat hunk of cornbread & 1 side. It's a little pricey for what you get (maybe you should get 1 more side?) but the meat is absolutely delicious. The uber-cool owner came by & chatted me up a bit, & told me all about the meats- which ones cool the quickest after they're served, where they get their meat from, even the breed of the pig that they buy. His excitement about the food was contagious! I was extremely anxious to try them all & it took a little long to get my entree, but once it arrived all was forgiven. It was MEAT-TASTIC! The brisket was wonderfully fatty & tender (try the KC sauce on it) ; the chicken was very juicy (try the TX sauce on it); the pulled pork & the sausage were both succulent (try the CG sauce on each). Great texture on the cornbread, not too "cakey" but not super dense & dry, either. And definitely not from a boxed mix. I got the greens as my side, they were tender & had a hint of vinegary sweetness. As I was finishing my meal I was joined at the table by a friendly married couple out on date night. The hubby shared a bit of his seasonal roasted root veggies with me, and they were FABULOUS...like candy made of vegetables. They have some extremely yummy dessert options, but after drooling over the picture they posted on FB, I decided to go with the beignets to end my meal. Heavenly little pouches of fried dough. They needed more powdered sugar (I'm used to the Cafe Du Monde style of beignet) but they were hot & chewy, so I gobbled up every last one. What a great meal at a great little restaurant. A lot of care & creative thinking has gone into the food here, and you'll get a great meal as a result. After all, the best meals have love cooked into them, don't they?

    (4)

  • Shelby S.

    BBQ in Milwaukee? That's right. And it's great BBQ too. If you're a first timer, get the combo platter. You'll get a nice surprise with the sausage. I've had people tell me it's the best thing on the menu. Don't overlook the candied bacon or the cornbread either.

    (5)

  • Jeanne M.

    I want to like this place, I really do. And they're still new, so I understand trying to work out the kinks. But... We came later on a Thursday evening (9ish) and ordered more food than any two people should ever order. But we wanted to order a variety of things and give everything a fair shake. So... They were out of ribs, naturally (what, with the whole hogs and all), so we had brisket and rib tips, Mac & cheese, creamed leeks, and beer. Fine canned Colorado beer. Nothing says barbecue like Colorado. The brisket was cooked for 10 hours and could've been such an extraordinarily different and better product if it were only cooked a bit longer. It was thin and fatty, and...well... Undercooked for brisket (not dangerously undercooked). The leeks would have absorbed the flavor of their sauce better if they were in smaller pieces, and the rib tips were OK. We ordered the greens, which they were out of. So we were talked into the mixed root vegetables, which we soon found out they were out of. Busy joint. The best part of the Smoke Shack was the variety of blues styles played at a perfect level overhead, that was no doubt meant to immerse you in your rustic surroundings. In short- I'd much rather take the trek to Milwaukee's north side for barbecue any day.

    (2)

  • Jonathan P.

    I've been excited to try this place since it opened. I really like AJ Bombers, and I love authentic Carolina BBQ, so how could this possibly be anything but amazing, right? Bottom line: Edible, ordinary food, but there are a few ways in which this place rides the failboat. First Impressions: Ok, so the environment is pretty cool, and you can see the smoker out back. The staff is friendly despite seeming a bit overwhelmed. I'm a fan of the super tall stools at every table. I'm 6'2" and feet are off the floor climbing up on these things. Watching some of the petite ladies try it was...entertaining, though some of them disagreed. Drinks: The first thing I noticed was $3.50 for a root beer. Meh, ok for a bottle. But I was disappointed when I got a 12 ounce can with a straw. I mean, really? For the price, would 4 extra ounces kill ya? Would having quality on tap be an obnoxious request? Looks like it, so the $8.50 for an Old Fashioned was not happening- it'd probably come in a shot glass. Appetizers: The ingredients and meat should be top notch and this is rumored to be Haute BBQ, right? So we ordered Candied Bacon for two. What we got was 6 half sticks of bacon and giant pile of fries. The fries were good- but umn, we wanted copious bacon. Pretty sure George Webb's give you more bacon than we got with this. As for the quality of said candied bacon- its an interesting novelty, but nothing that can't be done fairly easily at home. Main Course: Had the pulled pork. The quality of the meat was good. I'm a fan of their House sauce and Kansas sauce as much as I am of any edible grocery store brand. Thing is, I was looking for awesomesauce, not generic sauce. There is no outlandish, adventurous or even memorable option. Portions were sized well. Cornbread was sweet, and a bit dry in texture, but tasty. Kettle Chips with the skin on were awesome- everything I expected. Conclusion: The food is edible, but not special. I was sad this came from the AJ Bombers and Swig folks. When you factor in price- $40 for 2 people with no drinks, its a mediocre value proposition at best. I'd go back, but probably not even on a monthly basis. Despite living a few blocks away from this place, its worth the drive to Famous Daves for variety, quality and cost, but with a few tweaks, they could do a LOT better. Actually, this place got me in the mood for Famous Dave's drunken apples- something notably missing from the sides here. I think I know what I'm doing for dinner.

    (2)

  • Kristina K.

    I have been waiting to go to Smoke Shack for a while and finally I made it in today for lunch! As many of the reviews already mentioned, food goes quickly here - really quickly. Therefore at about 1:30, ALL RIBS were out. As our server put it, "Anything with rib in the title is not available". I was dying to have ribs and was disappointed that there wasn't enough to go around. Instead, we went with the brisket with a side of mac and cheese. At most BBQ places in the South, in NYC, even in Milwaukee there is usually enough meat to share. Therefore, it was a surprise to see 3 slices of brisket come out on the plate and the cup of mac and cheese to be 1/4 full. For the price point of $18 that seemed a bit excessive. Again, I understand the brisket is very high quality meat: organic, grass fed, etc. but why not make a larger plate and charge a bit more? That allows for more sharing and more 'food love' at the communal tables. Of course the brisket was absolutely delicious: smokey, juicy, and tender. Add in the fun of playing with the sauces, it is a great concept. But honestly, we were left hungry and wanting more. I want to give Smoke Shack another try - especially for the ribs, but I'm worried that I will be let down either by a ridiculously small portion or that everything will be sold out on the menu. Maybe this is what adds to the excitement and anticipation of another trip to the Smoke Shack...We'll see!

    (3)

  • Pete J.

    A great concept well executed, with lots of healthy options to choose from. The decor is that of a classy barbeque shack, with lots of nice touches (check out the mason jar lamp in front of the hostess stand). Service is friendly, prompt. But the food, oh the food- excellent. I went in here intending to leave if they did not have healthy options. Given that Joe Sorge's other restaurants have vegan options, I expected I would stay, and I wasn't disappointed. Starting with the "Mess O' Greens", collard greens cooked without fat (usually they are made with ham hocks or fatback- yuck), these were not overcooked, had good texture, excellent taste. The coleslaw is vinegar based, not slathered in mayonnaise. I met a couple friends there who shared some cornbread which was superb- not overly sweet, not dry like many places serve. As my friends said, there is no need to put any butter on the cornbread, it is so good. By the way, they had the ribs, which are dry rubbed, served without sauce and they stated were tender and moist, superb in their estimation. As for the entree, I had the "BBQ Seitan Sammich" which is a chopped grilled Upton seitan with arugula, red onion and house BBQ sauce, essentially a vegan sloppy Joe. It was awesome, on a bun that could support it without becoming soggy. The only recommendation I have is if you don't like spicy food (I love it), ask them to not drench it in the BBQ sauce, as the house sauce has a fairly pronounced kick. Equally superb were the sweet potato fries- crunch outside, soft inside, not at all greasy, not salty, simply delicious. So, this place is five stars in my estimation. This, by the way, is opening day, which they did right.

    (5)

  • Tom D.

    If you have a hankering for BBQ but no existing go-to BBQ place in MKE, Smoke Shack will suit your needs. That said, I was unimpressed by the BBQ sauces they had - the house sauce was pretty good, but the Texas, NC, and Habanero sauces were neither especially good nor bad. The NC was rather runny. The sides were similarly neither great nor bad. Clearly a restaurant in it's initial stages: a number of items on the menu were either no longer served or they had run out at 4:30pm on a Saturday. Maybe they ran out the previous night (Gallery Night) but, still, when it's well before rush and the first interaction with the waiter is listing all the things you can't order, it makes things awkward. The meat on the baby back ribs was good and the pulled pork was soft yet not very flavorful without the sauce (pork should have flavor all its own). The brisket was genuinely good and flavorful - if you like brisket, skip the other things and go for that. I don't think it's an accident that the brisket is good and it's also the only thing served and cooked with the sauce - everything else is "choose your own" sauce at the dining table. Re: Joe's comment below - I had the brisket sliders appetizer which do, in fact, come slathered in Texas BBQ sauce. Whether the brisket for sliders is cooked in the sauce or added afterward, I cannot say, but I can say that I liked them. The beer list is pretty sad - nothing on draft and a bit too heavy on the Boulder area stuff. I like me some Dale's but if you're going to have that you should also have Lakefront and New Glarus options beyond just Spotted Cow? I'm not a fan of MKE Brewing Company but they do have a couple of those. A few interesting mixed drinks, though. I think they're going a little too hard in the direction of "harder to find craft beer / mixologist" stuff without quite getting it right and without having the basics. Service was very good (also: we arrived before 5 and didn't have to wait) - my wife has a # of food allergies that make it difficult to eat out and they confirmed what was in what with 100% accuracy, which is something that matters very much to me. You can come here with soy and gluten issues and have most of the meals and sauces. Someone I presumed to be the owner or manager came by once or twice to check on us. Presumably this is Joe in the reviews below. Own personal beef: when the hell did it become acceptable for professional enterprises to start spelling sandwich without an "n" or a "d"? I've seen "sammich" here and "sammie" at several places recently. We're grown-ups, people!

    (2)

  • Beverly S.

    Very mediocre, in my opinion. In my experience there, my meat was very dry and the sauce was average, nothing special though. The wait on a Saturday night was about 30 minutes or so; not too much seating, but there is outdoor seating when there is warmer weather. Very small drink selection so even waiting the 30 minutes becomes a little unbearable, with hardly anywhere to stand and a small selection of drinks. I couldn't decide if the decor was rustic or tacky. Very dark inside, cozy.

    (2)

  • Matt R.

    I was a competition BBQ'er for 8 years, and originally from Tennessee, so I know good BBQ when I have it. Because of that I was a little worried about my visit to the Smoke Shack. You see, Joe (owner) is a friend of mine and the thought of possibly having to confess to him that his BBQ sucks was weighing heavy. I mean, it's Milwaukee for gods sake. Not like it's the BBQ capital of the world. In addition, BBQ is one of those polarizing things where everyone has a slightly different style that they lean towards and are fanatical about. I shouldn't have worried. The Great: The quality of pork that they're using (Berkshire pork that they're buying 'whole hog' from a local purveyor) is unusual for a BBQ joint. It's a hell of a lot costlier, but yes, in certain preparations it made a difference. So fine Joe, you win that round. The pulled pork: Good bark, good smoke ring, good flavor, moist, and tender. You can tell that this is being pulled throughout the day instead of sitting in open trays, and they don't hide the meat by mixing sauce into it. That pre-mixing of sauce btw is simply a cheat. It's a way of hiding poor quality and taste. Trust me when I tell you that no one who knows real BBQ would stand for that kind of crap to be put on a sandwich. The smoked chicken: This is usually not my thing, it can so easily dry out that most commercial BBQ'ers stay away from it. In this case however, I was pleasantly surprised. The sausage: Yes, I said sausage. This is not something that comes to my mind when I think BBQ. But you folks certainly know your sausage up here and Joe is having this sausage custom made for them. The casing has just that perfect amount of snap to it, and the sausage....oh that sausage. It was about as perfect as it gets. The cornbread: Done in a sweet cornbread style, it was delicious. Not quite as sweet as that cake stuff, and not as dry and mealy as the basic stuff. A great foil for the BBQ. The bourbon pecan praline thing they have for dessert along with their bourbon ice cream (yes, I said bourbon ice cream)...OMG. The 'spicy' bbq sauce was fantastic. The Good: The pork ribs: These were really good, but this is where my personal preferences come into play so take this with a grain of salt. They are served (like the rest of the meats) without being sauced and with only a dry rub applied. And they are *very* good. But my idea of 'dry ribs' are more along the lines of the famous Redezvous dry ribs in Memphis, meaning a more aggressive and liberal application of dry rub. And if I'm having wet ribs I lean towards those that aren't really 'wet' so much as sticky/glazed via a final application in the smoker before removing. More on my thoughts of dry ribs shortly. The Bad: There was no 'bad'. None. Saucing/Meats: All the meats are served without sauce, with the idea being that they have a variety of sauces at the table and you can apply any that you choose...or none. Where pulled pork is concerned, this is *the* proper way. Where ribs are concerned this is more rare. I absolutely understand the logic of this, and trust me when I say that I'd much prefer this to lower quality product being hidden behind a sauce. Joe is rightfully proud of the quality of his product, he wants you to taste the meat and not just sauce. So if you go into it knowing that I think it'll make more sense to you. Could be improved: This is where I'm going to get extremely picky, I wouldn't even say this if Joe wasn't a friend since to be honest I was blown away by the level of BBQ he's putting out in Milwaukee. But I already told him these things, and since I don't want to be biased I'll include them here. Sauce: The Carolina style mustard based sauce didn't do it for me. It was good, but the yellow mustard flavor was too prominent and the sauce needed more depth to it (however, as a dipping companion to the sausage it was oh so perfect). Pork Ribs: I'd like to see more prominence to the rub (fennel seed perhaps?). Pulled Pork: The dry rub needed a higher salt content to my palate and could stand to be sprinkled into the pork after being pulled and prior to serving to bring out the flavor of the meat a little more. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to serving pulled pork, so if it's served sans sandwich it just cries out to be sitting on a piece of white bread. No seriously, if you listen really closely you can actually hear it crying out "I'm lonely, sure wish I had nice piece of white bread to lay on top of" (that's not a euphemism, get your mind out of the gutter) Summary/Context: Take my four stars for what they are. I've had and made some of the best BBQ there is. The current #1 rated BBQ place in the country is just down the road from me. The only way you're getting 5 stars from me where BBQ is concerned is to pry that 5th one from my cold dead hands. Now take your ass to the Smoke Shack and say hello to Joe for me, because Good is Good

    (4)

  • Stu N.

    Just had my first sit down visit at the Smoke Shack, which is weird, me being a vegetarian, going to a BBQ joint, but overall, I had a good experience. I waited at the bar for my party to arrive, and had a good local beer from a decent selection of popular craft favorites. As the rest of my group came in, we moved out to the patio, where we met our lovely and friendly server, Melody. She gave us time to dig through the menu, and made sure our drinks were taken care of. She spent time with us, and was playful to one member of our party's ribbing (no pun intended.) We got our food, and while there were some mix ups in the order, Melody and GM Matt made it right. My BBQ Seitan sandwich was nice, but I wanted a bit more zest. I played around with the various sauces at our table, and found the Kansas City, which has some nice heat, to my liking. I would suggest the Texas if you are looking for something more sweet, and if you want even more heat, try the Habenero, which I sampled early on. The skin-on chips are as advertised, but personally, I'd almost like them more greasy and softer. I was never much of a crisp bacon guy either though. The sweet potato fries were tasty. I also got some greens, which I would order again, to round out my bbq experience. For dessert, I shared some pecan pie, which was heavenly, and came with whiskey ice cream, which had a cinnamon-esque flavor. By the time we left, the Shack was pretty full of people having a good time. I will definitely be stopping back and trying more of the menu, if this first dip in the pool is anything to base future experiences on. HUGE thanks to Melody, Matt, and our bartender and hostess!

    (4)

  • D H.

    Finally got to try this place on lunch today. The seating was prompt, we arrived before 12pm so I feel that helped... not sure what it would be like during a 'lunch rush'. The decor was fitting for a 'smoke' shack, I liked it. There was a decent amount of outdoor seating as well from what I saw. We were a little bummed that ribs aren't available before 5pm. I tried the pulled pork with sweet potato fries. My friend had the smoked wings. We sampled each others selections just to get a feel for the menu. My friend said the wings were 'ok' not the best she's ever had, perhaps it was the sage, seasoning? I thought they were a bit too seasoned, but that's just me. The pulled pork was super tender, well flavored. I felt the bun to meat ratio was a little off, but you do need a thick bun to soak up drippings from the pork. Fine. I ate most of the meat with the sauces offered anyways, not the bun itself. I am a sauce freak and enjoyed all of them. The habenero sauce wasn't really 'hot'. Just enough to pique your interest, but not leave ya sweating bullets and unable to taste your food. Sweet potato fries were spot on and probably the best I've had if you are into that sort of thing. The creamy coleslaw was missing something though. It tasted like grated purple cabbage with a dab of mayo. I'd love to go back to try the ribs, which is what I really wanted in the first place. I feel the pricing is high for the portions. You are paying for location, in my opinion (3rd Ward). Its definitely better than a large 'chain' that serves BBQ on the regular, but there are other independent 'Que places in the city that serve up something just as tasty for a lot less money. This establishment does add value to the 3rd ward though and everyone should at least give them a try once to see for themselves.

    (3)

  • Aaron F.

    After a first failed attempt to eat here last Saturday (the place was packed and we waited over 2 hours before giving up) I was told by Joe Sorge in a reply to my original review I had to give it another shot so I could experience what the Smoke Shack was truly capable of. I stopped in last night and had the absolute pleasure of tasting firsthand what Joe was talking about. We got here early this time and decided to try numerous different things so that we could come to a well-rounded decision on just how good this place really is. The pulled pork and brisket were out of this world and every one of their 4 homemade sauces were outstanding. Each sauce paired well with different menu items and had varying degrees of sweetness, spiciness, and smokiness. The cornbread and sweet potato fries complimented the rest of the meal nicely. The mac n cheese was a great companion to the pulled pork and mixing them together enriched the best parts of each of them. We tried the seasonal veggies which ended up being the only thing we were underwhelmed by. They mostly consisted of root vegetables and there was a lot of different textures going on which didn't appeal to us but perhaps they just weren't our thing. We also tried the rib tip appetizer and it was unlike anything I've ever tried before in a good way. My best advice for those is to dig in and rip them apart with your fingers and then dip them in your favorite sauce. Joe happened to be there last night when we dined and he went out of his way to make us and his other customers feel welcome. You can tell there's an undeniable passion there that you can't find in many other business owners these days. I'm sure this helps contribute to the success he's seen elsewhere. Apparently there are plans in the near future for a patio expansion project that will help add seating to the smoke shack and help make patrons happier I'm sure. I admit I was a little harsh in my initial review of the Smoke Shack after not getting seated last Saturday but I was unaware until after the fact that last Saturday was their first weekend being open. After trying it again last night I can honestly say this place has a bright future and I hope it continues to see success because there's nothing else like it in the area.

    (5)

  • Margaret R.

    Despite the good food, not sure if we'll be back. The place has cool decor, the patio looks like it will have great potential, although it's pretty tiny here. Delicious smelling smoky aroma, tasty food and the service from our bartender(s) and server was great, but the way we were treated when we arrived left us with a sour taste in our mouths. In a nutshell, we needed an extra chair so that all of our party could sit and eat together, yet the hosts and manager/owner refused to allow any unused stools at other tables to be moved over. Other guests had noticed our one friend standing and offered their extra stools to her, but they were quickly whisked back into place by the very protective "seat police." We noticed that these few extra seats remained unoccupied the entire time we were there! It just seemed very silly to be unaccommodating to your guests, especially when there are plenty of other restaurant options in town.

    (3)

  • Jamie v.

    As I live in the Fox Cities, there really isn't a good place to get great BBQ. After talking with some local friends, they told me of a place in Milwaukee called Smoke Shack. I texted my mom "the caterer" and asked if she had been there seeing how she lives in Milwaukee. Her response was "not yet, but I've heard good things" About a week later, I get a text back from my mom saying they were going to dinner at The Smoke Shack, when I asked how it was, she said "It was excellent" I of course had to find out for myself. We took a road trip to Milwaukee and had a late lunch at The Smoke Shack. Unfortunately, it was a cool rainy day, so we couldn't eat outside. Fortunately, we were there at an "off hour" and there was a nice booth just waiting for us! The 4 of us made sure to all order something different so we could sample each other's. I'm happy to say, I've found GREAT BBQ (and corn bread and macaroni & cheese)! What I thought was great, was the fact that there was all of the kinds of BBQ sauce at the table, so you were able to have a little of each (or combine them), most restaurants I've been to, the meat is floating in the sauce! Not at The Smoke Shack, your meat is "naked" and you add the sauce! Honestly, it was so tasty and tender, you didn't have to add sauce! As we were sitting at our table, Joe the owner stops by to check on us and suggests adding some of the pulled pork (and sauce of choice) to the macaroni & cheese... OMG, really? WHY ISN'T THIS ON THE MENU????? Talk about tangy and creamy all in the same bite!!! After our meal of brisket, pulled pork, sweet potato fries, macaroni & cheese, corn bread, and coleslaw, we had to sample dessert! OMG Pecan Pie with Purple Door Whiskey Ice Cream... really? Need I say more? The warm crust from the pie and the ice cream really hit the spot! I would have loved to have left overs, but we ate everything! Our next visit we'll have to try the ribs!

    (5)

  • Claude S.

    I had heard from colleagues about this BBQ place in the 3rd Ward, I was somewhat skeptical to say the least. Upon my visit I found the place to be small, only 45 seats, so we sat at the bar. But the place was packed, it appears these folks actually know what their doing in regards to BBQ. I ordered the 2 meat deal consisting of Brisket and Sausage, the brisket was outstanding. As I refuse to drown the meat in sauce, it should live on its own merit, otherwise its simply garbage. This brisket was both juicy and flavorful, the sausage though a little dryer than I prefer had excellent taste. The two meat combo with 1 side sells for $22.50, a little high for BBQ for 8 oz of protein, but I was delighted overall. This place must rock during the summer with outside seating, I'll most definitely return.

    (5)

  • Anthony S.

    SmokeShack offers so much in southern style BBQ from appetizers to sammiches and even some amazing deserts! It wasn't until recently I decided to try their baby back ribs that I've been hearing so much about. I'm a food snob so when the half rack arrived (great portion size), I knew I was in for a treat! Their dry rub style ribs do not need any sauce as they are amazing by themselves! Perfect blend of seasoning and such tender meat had me craving for the next bite! My only problem with my experience with their ribs is that I didn't order enough! I've been everywhere locally for ribs including Sticky Fingers in South Carolina and nothing compares to Smoke Shack! Yeah..... They're that good!

    (5)

  • Gregory M.

    As much as I love the company of women, I think this is a restaurant where you don't invite them to come with you. Instead, call up your bros, suit up (actually I recommend wearing comfortable clothing, like sweatpants and a flannel shirt), and get the wolf pack together. I strongly recommend nominating one of your friends to be "the daddy" of the group. It makes for a great time if one of your friends refers to himself as "daddy." Also, the server finds it really amusing and weird. For starters, order the Pulled Pork Nachos. Why? Because, who doesn't love nachos, ya doofus. I generally don't like chili, but when they are serving the white chili, you must get it. While the Roasted Pablano Corn Chowder resembles diarrhea, it is pretty good. I have been here four times and every time I have shared a four meat combo - homemade sausage, pulled pork, pulled chicken, and sliced brisket. Yeah, there will be a lot of meat up in you. If you came to this restaurant for a salad, then you are an idiot. The decadent Mac & 4 cheese is more decadent than bottle service at Whiskey Bar. The corn bread is simply lame. This place is cozy, so it is always a gamble if you will get a table or not. Also, they sometimes sell out of much of their menu.

    (4)

  • Sandy W.

    Went for dinner Sunday evening at 5:30. Love the atmosphere, but it is small, nice to see they have outside seating for warmer weather. The BBQ was good, probably the best I have had in Milwaukee. I had the pulled pork entree, and my husband had the brisket. The portion I had was good, the portion my husband had was small. I think he only had 3-4 slices of brisket, which would be fine if he had just ordered the sandwich. One person in our group had the 1/2 chicken and they liked it very much. They were out of most of the desserts by dinner time. The sides, corn bread, mac & cheese and sweet potato fries were all good as well. I will be back!

    (4)

  • Kate P.

    We were finally able to get in last night. The place is small, atmosphere is fun, inviting and the smells are heavenly. The sauces are amazing. The waitstaff was great. I had the brisket sloppy joe - it wasn't as tender as I expected. The bun was a major disappointment - they need Sobelman's buns. The babyback ribs weren't meaty enough. The mac n cheese was great. Cornbread was just ok - could use a side of butter or honey. All in all - we will return, we'll just order different main dishes.

    (3)

  • Rosemary N.

    Being from Texas I was disappointed. Food was not that great. Atmosphere was fun. Wouldn't recommend it to anyone

    (3)

  • Robert D.

    Amazing food and top notch service. Everything is smoked daily and they have 4 different styles of BBQ sauce. Sit at the bar if you can, the bartender is awesome

    (5)

  • Dustin T.

    This place has a great vibe to it but the food I experienced was lacking. I ordered the pulled pork and it was dryer than the surface of Mars. I do not know how many cups of water I guzzled down and how many jugs of BBQ sauce I poured on in order to finish my expensive meal. There are a lot of positive reviews here on Yelp and maybe I will give this place another shot and change this review.

    (2)

  • Nicole S.

    My boyfriend and I pride ourselves on our ability to find great places to eat. We are notoriously picky and often times places our friends like (Blue's Egg) we don't. So, that being said WE LOVED THE SMOKE SHACK! First of all, you walk in the door and the smell of sweet smokey deliciousness hits you. Then you are greeted my staff that are genuinely friendly and nice. Fernando and I decided to sit at the bar rather than wait for a table. Glad we did! Our Bartenders, Dan and Tim (might be Dave and Tom) but I am pretty sure I have their names right, WERE AWESOME. They had tons of helpful information about the menu, you could tell they took pride in the food that was being offered up, and they had great personalities too! Fernando and I loved the food. It was amazing. We split the sample platter which offered up four different meats to try. I must say, they have the BEST SAUSAGE we have EVER had!! It was so good. The side of mac n cheese along with sweet potato fries were delicious. Also, the cornbread was moist and tasty. We ordered the pecan pie with whiskey ice cream and that was truly a treat!! Yummy purple door ice cream served with a hot slice of pecan pic....can we say died and gone to heaven! All that with two tall boys of miller products and I call that a good night! In total our bill came to 50 bucks, so worth it!! I would have paid more that's how quality their product is. We will be going there again and taking friend and family with us. This summer, when there outdoor dining area opens up, this will be the place to be!!!

    (5)

  • Karl L.

    Really good pork!!!! I really loved that we could sit next to people we did not know. Met a nice older couple while we were there. Will return earlier so there is still some brisket

    (4)

  • James L.

    Take advantage of downtown dining specials for the next week and a half! We went there for lunch today and the experience was one of a kind. The ambience is very well thought out. The space boasts 3rd ward historic quaintness. Each area is decked out in a rustic, southern, down home country shack meets Red Barn meets Ponderosa meets treehouse motif. Rugged timbers, two by fours, and distressed paint and corrugated fiberglass roofing instantly transports you to a different time and place. Waitstaff was extremely friendly and thoughtful. Food arrived quickly. I had the pulled pork sandwich, the house salad, and purple door ice cream for dessert. The pulled pork was delicious and perfectly cooked and served warm on an open face bun. You pick which barbeque sauce you want. There is Texas, Kansas City, House, and mustard barbeque varieties. Also a hot sauce for additional kick. The house barbeque I thought was the best. The salad was an awesome spring green and spinach mix with a delicious raspberry balsamic vinegar dressing. Arrive early to avoid the large crowds trying to get into this place! No reservations taken! There is also a nice sized outdoor seating area. We will be back soon!

    (5)

  • Erin S.

    I've wanted to try Smoke Shack sine the day it opened. I must admit my envy as I heard all my other friends talk about their experiences there. It was all worth the wait though! We went around 7pm on a Sunday, and the small, yet cozy restaurant was still full. Having other friends that have gone previously, I knew that they can sell out of ribs, and wasn't surprised by the fact that indeed they were already out late on a Sunday. Here's the real deal, Smoke Shack gets one pig per day, and smokes it for 14 hours, so that not only do you get the most amazing pork you've ever put in your mouth, but it's as fresh and carefully prepared as you can ask for. It takes time, effort, and precision to be that good, and it shows through the quality of service and food. That being said, I was still ready to dive into everything on the menu. Our waitress was the sweetest cutest thing on the face of this planet. Friendly, attentive, and helpful. I had a hard time deciding what to order, since I wanted one of everything, yet the waitress assured me that my final four decisions were all her personal favorites. I settled on the pulled pork with a side of Mac n Cheese. I love, love, love the idea behind Smoke Shack. They'll serve you the most tender, flavorful meat you've ever had, and YOU get to decide what sauce you want. There on the table are 5 different sauces for your taste bud pleasure, each different and equally as good, so that you can get to your perfect BBQ euphoria. I tried them all, and I have to say I'm a Kansas City girl with a splash of the Carolina. Even better, putting a little sauce in the Mac n Cheese, and stuffing it all down with a light moist slice of corn bread heaven. Pretty sure I could eat that every day for the rest of my life. I've eaten at all of Joe Sorge's restaurants and have never been disappointed. Each one has a different feel, style, and ambiance. Joe....you are doing it right, and have brought nothing but greatness to our taste buds and Milwaukee.

    (5)

  • Lisa A.

    Very good ! Crowded , quick service polite and good BBQ !!

    (5)

  • Matt H.

    A complete failure of a BBQ restaurant, this group needs to come down with me to the World Championship of BBQ in Memphis so they can learn something. The frat boys make better BBQ down there and the price is outrageous! Save your wallet and taste buds, enjoy a beer and bbq at home any day of the week over this place.

    (1)

  • Kara K.

    Really enjoyed dinner! The restaurant is small and lighting is dim, which just adds to the ambiance. The food was fabulous! Started with the pulled pork nachos, then my husband and I had the pulled pork and brisket sandwiches. We wanted to share and they brought out the sandwiches, cut in half, with a half on each plate and split the fries and chips between our plates. Not a big deal, but was a nice gesture! Will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Janna K.

    Went to Smoke Shack on a Friday evening. Arrived around 6:30, it was packed (good sign I thought) got a space at the bar and decided to eat there. Had an appetizer the pork nachos with a couple of drinks. They were good. Around 7pm decided to order dinner. I ordered the chicken sandwich and my boyfriend ordered the beef spare ribs. About 10 mins later the bartender came back and told us not only were they out of the beef ribs they were also out of the pork baby back ribs. So basically half of the menu (again at a bbq restaurant) were no longer available on a Friday night. These aren't specials. These are the main reason people come to a BBQ restaurant. So then the bartenders tried to push the brisket. Which was actually just more annoying because we don't happen to like brisket. So he ended up with the rib tips which were OK at best and my chicken sandwich was just so-so. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to any of my friends. It was over priced and the food not so good. Plus the kicker.. the bartenders told us we needed to get there EARLIER if we wanted ribs... so I guess we'll have to wait for our AARP membership to try them. Because really I don't think 7 pm ordering dinner is that late.

    (1)

  • A F.

    I can't say enough about this place. The food is out of this world! They make everything without sauce so you can pick from their 4 sauces- the Texas and Kansas city were my favorite. My table got the pulled pork, the brisket, the sausage and ribs. All were very good. For the sides we tried the corn, the Mac and cheese, the greens and coleslaw. We loved them all except the coleslaw - one loved it and the other hated it. The cornbread is worth writing home about. We ordered extra to take home. It is a small place so expect to wait- we tried getting in at 6pm on a Friday and had an hour wait- we tried again tonight a Saturday at 5:15 and had a 20 minute wait. If you are a smaller group you'll probably get seated at the group tables so if you are uncomfortable sharing tables with strangers this might not be the place for you. They need to expand asap. Parking can be a pain because it's the third ward. My only complaint was with dessert- the beignets needed a dipping sauce but that is so minor it's not a big deal. The service was great- the food outstanding - overall a fantastic place.

    (5)

  • Anthony B.

    I liked this place. The setting is very "intimate", so I and to sit at the bar. The food and service was good. I had the pulled pork which was good. The best part was the fried corn. That's what I would come back for. Overall it's a good bbq joint.

    (5)

  • Ron R.

    How could I have not reviewed this place already? It slipped my mind? I suppose so. We've been here twice for lunch, both times the 'Q has been consistent. The pulled pork is tasty, and plenty of it graces the soft bun. Order it Memphis style with cole slaw on top. Yum- The brisket is tender and tasty- toss some of the signature sauces on top, and you're in for a nice meal. Now- if you're from out of town, and looking for Kansas City or Memphis quality 'Q in Milwaukee, you're out of luck. For some reason, we just can't pull it off up here. But Smoke Shack is hands down one of the best we got, and that aint bad.

    (4)

  • John T.

    Sunday 6/22/14 was my third time here. I remember it being good. The last time I was here was about 2 years ago. My party arrived for a late dinner at 7:15. The 1st thing I noticed was it took several minutes for someone to come out and seat us. I don't know where everyone was...there were 2 people at the bar and 3 tables. It seemed slow, and the bartender eventually saw we were not being helped so he seated us. We ordered the 1/2 rack of ribs, pulled chicken sandwich, and pulled chicken dinner. Our server seemed to be in a meh mood, which I don't really care about unless everything else sucks too. My pulled chicken meal came out luke warm at best. It tasted reheated and not something fresh out of the smoker. I am not a fan of all their sauces because every one of them is sweet. No bold or savory sauces which is BOO in my book. At least have variety. My party seemed to enjoy their meals enough to not complain. When it was time to cash out we left an over 20% tip because I am in the service industry and tip well. Our server just came and picked up the book without saying anything. Then she came back and apparently left change. I said "that's all you, thanks" then she just said "oh" and walked away again. Come on.... Anyway the reason I wrote this was because of what my brother found in the coleslaw for the leftovers I brought him. See picture. A giant staple in the coleslaw. UNACCEPTABLE!!! SHUT IT DOWN!!!!

    (1)

  • Jeff W.

    What a great place for bbq, possibly the best I've had. Ive been here quite a few times and I always get the brisket but everything looks amazing. The one time I was here for brunch I had some burnt ends egss benedict... you heard that right, and its as good as it sounds. Other reviews are right, later in the night they run out of certain items so get here early. The only draw back is the size and seating, its very limited, especially in the colder months when the outside patio is not an option.

    (5)

  • E P.

    Had lunch w/ my girlfriends @ Smoke Shack & we definitely loved it! Finally took my boys there & they were not disappointed.., The place is quite small and it gets very busy. I love the rustic atmosphere & I love how they utilize mason jars for their drinks as well as their lighting lanterns. As for the food, definitely delish! We had the pulled pork nachos & it could feed 4 to 5 people...it was a lot for us 3... My husband had the brisket & that melted in his mouth!!! I will order that next time! My son ordered their chicken salad & he says it is the best salad he has ever had! We all tried it & it was absolutely fresh & yummy! I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of Mac & Cheese as well as the fried sweet potatoes...it was also Devine! I preferred the Kansas BBQ sause... As I have mentioned, the place is tiny & we sat at the bar...however, once the weather is much nicer, there's more out door space... Now, the service, very awesome! Our bar tender, Steve, was great! Because it was my boys 1st time, Steve explained their top seller...he was great! Overall, we had an amazing dinner w/ great service & atmosphere...We will be back for more! Btw, they do run out baby back ribs early...So, go early if that is what u intend to have...

    (5)

  • Joe A.

    Great smoked ribs. Love that you actually put your selected barbecue sauces on to your liking. Great variety of drinks and excellent desserts.

    (5)

  • Al B.

    This place is so cool...it's a little shack-like restaurant nestled between some big buildings in downtown Milwaukee. Even the outside is themed as a backwoods smoke shack. Inside the atmosphere is cozy and inviting, not pretentious at all. I sat at the bar to grab some lunch, I already knew I wanted the beef brisket with mac n cheese but I also ordered a side of the vinegar slaw. The drink was served in a mason jar which is a nice touch. The food came out really quick and it looked perfect. The meat comes out with no sauce but there are 4 or 5 bottles of sauce on the bar that you can douse your brisket in. I loved the Habanero and the Kansas City sauces, both were made with love. I also enjoyed the other sauces as well, they were all good really. The server behind the bar was very attentive and helpful, not to mention friendly and cool. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth delicious with a capital D! It had a super flavorful bark on the outside and a nice tender and juicy inside with just the right amount of smoke, real smoke, not liquid smoke. The menu even tells you how long the meat has been in the smoker, which is smoked right on the premises. The vinegar slaw was so good I actually drank the liquid at the bottom of the cup, first time I've ever done that! There are some other dishes that I will definitely be back for, next time I'm going to try the dessert!

    (5)

  • Mike B.

    Excellent food, get a good glass of Hennessy and sit back to enjoy some brisket. Load up on the sausage and slaw and come Hungary. Great service and an absolute smoke house feel. A strong pbr cheers.

    (4)

  • Yan H.

    I love BBQ in general, and I LOVE Brisket... but I can only say I like the smoke shack. Most of the smoked meats are too lean for me, I am much more accustomed to something fattier and therefore juicier out of my BBQ. Is this the price we pay when switching to a humane and organic cow/pig/chicken? If that was all smoke shack had going for it, this would be a sad review. Fortunately their 5 sauces: Kansas City, Texas BBQ, InHouse BBQ, Caroline Gold, and Kick 24 habernero... Came to the rescue! What was good, became delicious. I might have to buy a few pints next time. Lastly for dessert... anything using bourbon is worth your remaining stomach space... bourbon praline cake or bacon bourbon brownies. 4 stars...but it feels strange to like a restaurant not for it's signature foods.

    (4)

  • Brian D.

    I have to say, I have been here half a dozen times. Without fail, exceptional food. Until today that is. My friend and I both had the brisket. Mushy, fatty and no bark and really not a hint of smoke (well, we sat outside so we could smell the smoker, just not taste it in the dish). The dish also wasn't plated all that well. It was a few pale pieces of meat with a few chips on the plate. Not a $19 plate by any means. Service was spot on as usual, our server was very nice and very attentive. She may have even garnered the extra star. I'm going to call this an off day, I'll go back - I love this place overall. Just disappointed in the quality today. *Bumped up one star for a kind response, and for some very good past experiences.

    (3)

  • Erik S.

    Pulled pork and sweat potato fries were really good. Small bar area, but was able to get a seat there. Service was great, and the selection of bbq sauces were really good. Had to try them all.

    (4)

  • Courtney C.

    If you have ever lived in the South and are hoping for authentic Southern food, pass on this place! I was so excited to find a place in MKE that reminded me of home. I ordered the fried okra as an appetizer and Carolina pulled pork. When the okra arrived at the table, I wanted to send it back. It was fried in the wrong batter and cut in long horizontal strips. The batter was bland and was not seasoned. I am used to small pieces fried in a corn mill batter. The pork was edible, but I was hoping for a vinegar based pork. The cornbread was more like vanilla cake. It was way too sweet. I even told the waiter that whatever he served me was not cornbread. The service was great, but the food was subpar.

    (2)

  • Randy R.

    Carolina smoked pork sandwich for lunch with sweet potato fries, all very good. I like that they have four kinds of barbeque sauce so you can choose to your taste, or if you're like me, try all four (plus no sauce at all). Creamy coleslaw cost extra, but very good coleslaw. I like that the place is as dark as a dive bar and has some pretty convincing shack decor. I don't like the stools because I never like sitting at stools unless I'm at a counter (which is an option here). There are some booths with booth seats, and some tables with stools. But at least there are plenty of coat hooks, because if you're going to seat people at stools you HAVE to have coat hooks. I'm so happy when restaurants think of that. My major complaint is that there was no gluten-free bread. The sandwich portion of meat is fine, but if you can't eat wheat, and there is no gluten-free bread, you just feel cheated. Way in the past I accepted this, but these days there is VERY good gluten-free bread available, and it can (and should) be kept frozen, so there is never any issue of waste for the restaurant. The bread has to be toasted or grilled, but then it is delicious and makes us gluten-free diners VERY happy. If you can't offer gluten-free bread, it is nice to offer some substitute like extra coleslaw or chips. We more than appreciate that gesture. My only other complaint is that big ugly hunk of plastic up in one corner radiating stupidity, also known as a TV. I love bars that don't have TVs, but can't forgive restaurants that DO have them. I would consider Smoke Shack a restaurant, though if you want want to get drunk here, they can accommodate you,

    (4)

  • Aesha W.

    Great BBQ in Milwaukee. I had the pulled chicken and it was really good. They have five sauces, and each one tastes quite different, which is a good thing, since some places have a hot sauce that's barely discernible from the mild. The Kansas City was my favorite. The restaurant is pretty small, unless there was a lot that I didn't see. We stopped in around 2 p.m. and it was close to empty, lucky for us. The parking might be a problem, but in this area of town there are a few lots so it might be A-OK. Staff were attentive but not annoyingly so, and the prices weren't too crazy. I'd definitely stop again when I'm in Milwaukee.

    (4)

  • Tamara M.

    Awesome experience. The live music on Saturday a afternoon was a fun surprise. Wonderful food and a menu with a food allergen key. Our 10 year old, Gavin, was so happy to find a great restaurant in Milwaukee that not only serves delicious food BBQ, but is also safe. Thank you! Your business is terrific. Obviously the best BBQ in Milwaukee, congrats on the award.

    (5)

  • Phil T.

    Quality meats done right the right way! Their price points are a Lil high but if it's done right I don't mind paying for it. Now if the ladies could pay the same prices for my meat! ;-) Life would not be that bad!! Ha! The wedge salad was uber delish. Screaming fresh ingredients! The brisket was good at the same time dry but I did forget to request moist. I wont ding them for it. Asked the staff and they normally don't give an option. Pork loin and sausage were both equally as good. Texas sauce with a dab of the luck was my fav combo.

    (4)

  • Sadie T.

    This restaurant is a bit aesthetically out of place in the 3rd Ward. They're not kidding about "shack" - look for the stand alone facility that is a shack on the outside. The inside is nice, a very Southern feel. Very Southern barbecue feel. The inside is actually quite small. There's the bar, and three or four bar-like tables (stools with no backs) and then two very large booths. There may be an upstairs with more seating but I'm not sure. We went for brunch. We were seated right away, but I have to say I was very uncomfortable the whole time I was there - sitting on a stool without a back. Anyone with a back problem would be in significant pain. I can't imagine the elderly or disabled could sit here, other than at the booths (which were both occupied and filled with parties of six people). The tables are quite high and my feet couldn't reach the ground, so my legs were dangling and my back was aching. This needs improvement. Worse, this place is not wheelchair friendly, someone in a wheelchair would not be able to reach the table let alone engage in conversation. Luckily they offer a vegetarian friendly option for the biscuits and gravy made with seitan. It was yummy and very filling. The gravy was great, but very rich. I would like it better as a lunch or dinner than as a breakfast, but this is because I prefer sweet over savory for breakfast, but this is a personal preference. They have several different hot sauces you can try. There are no fruits or vegetables on the menu, this is NOT a place you can eat healthy. They do give the table a large cinnamon roll appetizer (my observation was one per table, whether there are two people or six). In conclusion, very rich comfort foods, few vegetarian options, cool and thorough theme, but very uncomfortable and inaccessible seating. This place could be a slam dunk if they add some healthy foods to the menu AND change up the seating options. It was a fun enough experience but not enough variety for me to plan a return trip.

    (3)

  • Justin O.

    Interesting place in downtown Milwaukee. A small little shack called, "The Smoke Shack". As the name implies, you come here if you like ribs! :) They have a variety of meats with different self serve sauces to your liking. I opted for the brisket with a side of Mac-n-cheese. Very good and would order again. I began the meal with a wedge salad. Mmm mmm. Plenty of blue cheese, just the way I like it! The server was super friendly and very helpful in suggesting menu choices. The ambiance of the place is like going into a darkly lit bar with blues music playing in the background. Definitely adds to the great experience. I recommend checking this place out. Off the beaten path.

    (4)

  • Nicole F.

    Good stuff. I particularly like that they have a couple of vegetarian options (at a BBQ joint!)- my hubby and I are both veggies, and our son is so not one of us. The only thing that makes me give it 4 stars instead of 5 is that the servers are hit or miss here.

    (4)

  • Brendan K.

    One of the best meals I've ever had. It was hyped up a lot, but definitely delivered. Everything I tried (pulled pork, sausage, macaroni and cheese, candied bacon) was amazing. I would recommend getting one of the meat combination plates (pick 2 or 3 meats), just for the sake of being able to try more food. The candied bacon is a great appetizer as well if you're eating with a group.

    (5)

  • Abigail F.

    One of my favorite restaurants! Stumbled upon the restaurant one day during the summer 2 years ago while walking around the third ward. The food is amazing! My personal fave is the pulled pork sandwiches. The sweet potato fries and sweet & spicy beans are delicious too! They have many different sauces for you to choose from to add to your dish which is a plus. They are usually pretty busy during lunch hours, so I recommend you make a reservation or get there early so you can snatch a table opposed to a seat at the bar. At times they run out of certain dishes, so it's also recommended you show up early for this reason too. I love the way the restaurant was designed. During the summer you can eat outside and it truly gives it a BBQ picnic feel. Love it!

    (5)

  • John F.

    Good service, neat & clean restaurant and cool atmosphere. But what I really went there for was great 'que. Had the pulled pork with greens for the side. The pork was good, not dry. But what was lacking in my opinion, was the smoke flavor. True 'que has to have solid smoke flavor. The four sauces are nice to experiment with. The greens were tasty and I also had a Texas popper for an appetizer. It consists of a half poblano pepper filled with cream cheese and fried. Really enjoyed that. So. a mixed review I guess. I'll try another BBQ joint this week before I head home from Milwaukee.

    (2)

  • JoEllen F.

    Only one reason well maybe 2, that I'm give it a 4 instated of 5. We sat for at least 10 minutes in an almost empty restaurant ( it was late) before someone even approached us. Them it was fast. Drinks and food came quick. I was disappointed that my 1st choice was not available. They had a super busy night and ran out of the brisket. The pulled pork was a great suggestion by our waitress We shared and the cool thing was they brought it on 2 plates divided up. Nice. So I would definitely go again.

    (4)

  • David B.

    We have eaten here a number of times and enjoyed the food on each visit. But I wanted to comment on the quality of the catering...and in a word, excellent! The delivery guy was right on time. The quality was consistent with what we had at the restaurant. And most important our guests loved the food. Nice job all around!

    (4)

  • Erik A.

    This place has amazing decor inside. Ambiance is five star for sure. Also, the wedge (or iceberg) salad with the spicy sausage--would have to rank among the top three or four salads I've ever eaten in my entire life. I'd love it if they would have some tap beers (or relatively inexpensive wine options), but their drink menu and bar setup seems like they are really trying to promote their whiskey selection, which is fine. Something very unique in MKE.

    (4)

  • Caley C.

    Surprised by the versatility of this place. It's definitely much more than a pokey barbecue shack. Even though it doesn't look like much from outside, the interior is beautifully done with cool vintage lighting. The seating is a little odd, as many of the spots are just stools at a tall bar, but if you get a booth, that would probably be better. Kudos to them for having tall high chairs that sidle up to bar, however. First went there for lunch and enjoyed a tasty pulled pork sandwich. Not the best I've ever had, but darn tasty. Great sauces, as well. Was even more impressed when I went back recently for brunch. Though at first the thought of meat-less gravy seemed sad, I can report that the biscuits and gravy are super good, and worth a try. You can add some delicious andouille sausage as well. Will definitely go back to try more of the many tasty options they offer. And I love the music! A great mix of blues and other great tunes.

    (4)

  • Stacie E.

    As bbq places go in Milwaukee. ..its just ok. A place to go and feel downtowny with your bbq. Doesnt have much flavor but the sauces are good. Excellent fried green tomatoes and thats the only thing I would go back for.

    (3)

  • Kira W.

    I've eaten here twice now. Parking kinda stunk both times, but if you go when it's snowing/raining, you'll have better luck. The first time was our anniversary. We had fried green tomatoes - great because the slices of tomato were nice and thick. Sometimes it can be difficult to get them right, but they were good. Around Milwaukee, fried green tomato ranking would be: Big Daddy's Brew & Que, Smoke Shack, and Maxie's. The thing is, they all have very distinct tastes, so it's hard to declare a favorite. We had pulled pork, chicken and brisket. We wanted ribs, but they were out already (2pm on Sat). We had the mac & cheese, which was decent, and cornbread. The cornbread pieces were pretty big and the meat and mac & cheese portions weren't huge considering the price, but they were tasty. My boyfriend, the beef eater, said the brisket was great. We both agreed that the pork and chicken were stellar and liked that they came totally naked. We sauced them as we pleased. First visit's overall rating, B+ (ribs, please!) Second time I went with my girlfriends for lunch. We had the nachos, which were amazing. The only thing is if they could layer the toppings more the nachos would have been better. I had the portobello sandwich. I should have taken off the bun, but it was still good. It was a little greasy, but tasty, and you can't really go wrong with sweet potato fries. I would definitely order the sandwich again. They had no ribs, which is what I wanted, as they don't sell those until after 5. Immediate seating at 1pm in the afternoon in snow/rain and they have two sizes of high chairs for those with kids. Second visit's overall rating, B+ (ribs, please!)

    (4)

  • Isaac S.

    There are some positives: -Food was good. Solid. -Service was very friendly and always on call. I felt very comfortable tipping 20%. -The atmosphere is cool. Well-decked out. -Fantastic quality meats. BIG negative: WAY overpriced in my opinion. Everything should be $3-5 less. If they are to continue charging the prices they charge, the portions need to be larger. I don't like having the feeling that I was ripped off as I leave a casual restaurant like this one.

    (3)

  • Meade S.

    I grew up in the south and I know my bbq. I also competed with a pro barbeque team at the Memphis in May International competition twice. The problem with Smoke Shack is that they are not really cooking over wood. They were cool enough to let me have a look at their smoker. It's fired by gas and then they can put a small amount of wood in a separate compartment where the wood smolders a bit. This allows a little bit of smoke to waft through the cooking compartment. But, the cooking is done on gas. Real bbq is essentially a cooking technique which relies on hot smoke to cook the meat. This really isn't happening here. The result is virtually no smoke ring and little wood taste. They try pretty hard though to recreate a "down south smokehouse atmosphere" and it comes off as a little contrived to me. But, the sides are good, the beer is cold and it's overall not bad by Milwaukee standards. Sorry, but I've not had anything that I would consider decent bbq in Mke.

    (2)

  • Andy C.

    Gracious - how have I not done a review of this place yet? Onwaaaaarrrrds. Date of most recent visit: October 12, 2013. Location: 5 out of 5 I happen to live in the oddity that is the historic 3rd ward where there's an overabundance of restaurants, but a lack of commodities like, say...an actual grocery store (save me your arguments that the public market is an actual 'grocery store', ok?) That being said, SS is merely a hop and skip away from where I live, and a very leisurely 5 minute walk from my front door. Street parking is usually available in the middle of the day, and I think there's like a 'secret spot' right outside of their front door that isn't marked as a parking spot, but it isn't marked as NOT a parking spot, either. Mind blown. Customer Service: 3.5 out of 5 Consistently above average when it comes to customer service. We've been there no less than 5 times, and each time the waiter or waitress serving us has been polite and friendly. Sometimes when they're busy, it takes a little while longer for them to come around to check on you (especially if you're outside on the patio), but overall - I've always been happy with the customer service. Decor/Ambiance: 5 out of 5 Ok, you're not going to be able to trick me and say that this is a true "shack" feel like how Franklin's is in Austin or like how some of the more primitive restaurants are in NC. But, they do a nice job here recreating a rustic look, and the smoker just to the rear of the patio does provide a nice olfactory kick of TASTINESS. Expect to see lots of wood paneling, trim, tables, and chairs - and yes, you do drink things out of Mason jars, woo hoo! Weather permitting, I actually do enjoy sitting outside on the patio - though be forewarned that the tables and chairs are heavier than they look so if you have friends or family members who need help scooting in and out, it's helpful to have someone else there for them. Food selection and quality: 4 out of 5 Smoked meats include pulled chicken, berkshire links, brisket, pork loin, and pulled pork. They do serve ribs as well, though those aren't usually available till later in the day (5pm I think is when they come out of the smoker). I've had the luxury of having EACH of the above items, and while none of them disappointed me in the least, my go-to favorites will always be pulled pork and brisket. As usual - if you taste the meats before you apply sauce, you'll get a feel for how they've presented their finished product. There are some regional variations in how brisket should be prepared, and if I had one tiny minor critique, I just wish that the brisket I've had there had more of a pronounced smoke ring. They also serve sandwiches made from each of the above meats, plus a few other things like portabella and veg protein. Sides/starters include items you might expect to see plus a few novelties: fried green tomatoes, okra, rib tips, smoked chicken wings, mac n cheese, chips, corn, cornbread, etc. come to mind. The vinegar based slaw is actually quite good, though you have to be in the mood for that particular variety. They've started to do brunch somewhat(?) recently, and I should give my plug here for the fried chicken and poblano waffle. Mixed with a little apple syrup and the butter they provide, the waffle is tasty (though mine was slightly overdone), and I liked the simple fried prep of the chicken, e.g., not overseasoned, just right in terms of crispness, etc. Cocktail Selection: 4 out of 5 An equally impressive selection of spirits. Sure, they have beer ranging from PBR to local craft beer, but their homage to a few southern'esque drinks is a nice touch: the bourbon sidecar and the memphis sweet tea come to mind. Value: 3 out of 5 Understandably, any meal here won't be "cheap" since nicely done smoked meats take time and resources. If you just get a sandwich and a soda, you might be able to come out paying less than 15$. Likely - if you get a drink (even beer) and a platter + appetizer, you can expect to pay between 20 - 25 bucks a head. So while the ambiance and setting are casual in nature, I'd still classify SS as a "special treat" type place. Overall: 4 out of 5 Always a good time in a very pleasant setting. You may suffer from slight sticker shock if you've never been, but understand that it truly is a "treat" and savor your experience there and you'll be ok.

    (4)

  • Sam D.

    Neat decor. Food was pricey and not that good. Highlights were the egg rolls and sweet potato fried. All the meat was really dry and not a ton of flavor. The sauces were ok but nothing you can't buy at a grocery store.

    (2)

  • Peter S.

    The atmosphere is nice and the staff was friendly. Our waitress was really soft spoken which is difficult when sitting on the patio. My wife and I got the Kansas City Egg Rolls and they were very good, the mustard was a nice touch. For entree my wife got the pulled pork plate with deep fried corn(i had never had this, it was a very different and good approach to corn on the cob!) which was very good as well. For my dinner I got a rack of baby back ribs with macaroni and cheese, both were great. The house, Texas and Kansas City barbecue sauces were all solid options, but the Carolina sauce tasted like straight yellow mustard. Overall a very good meal, we plan on going back

    (4)

  • Jesse T.

    Let's just get this out of the way: the Kansas City barbecue sauce is the best I've had north of Kansas. The meat itself is very good: extremely juicy, carries the natural flavor of the meat quite well, and is cooked to a very good point. The mac and cheese that I had was a fantastic white, and the punch of the cheese was exactly the contrast you want with the smooth tang of the KC sauce. Love the setup, love the beer list. Lots of outdoor seating as well, making it great in the summer (when it's not scorching). I'm probably going back when I visit Milwaukee again, and you should too.

    (4)

  • Nicole C.

    This place beats out Chicago bbq any day. I would make the drive from the south side just to eat here. The meat is so tender and juicy. We sat at the bar and had a lovely conversation with the friendly bartender. Im so glad we found this gem!

    (5)

  • Leslie L.

    This place looks rustic and the decor is awesome!! The good was pretty tasty. They give you an array of BBQ sauces to have /try with your meal. They also (yes believe it or not) have some vegetarian friendly dishes. I know there is a BBQ sandwich made with Seitan. Honestly, my favorite thing here (and I should have gotten more) was the corn chowder!! It was awesome!!

    (4)

  • Kathleen H.

    My husband and I were in the mood for good BBQ and the Smoke Shack did not disappoint! The food was delicious and obviously made from scratch. We started by trying the pulled pork nachos, and let me tell you, that was the most tender and flavorful pork I've ever eaten! I ordered the pulled chicken sammich for my main course and created my own BBQ sauce by combining the Kansas City and Texas BBQ sauces. I really like being able to dress my BBQ with the sauce myself, so this was a big bonus for me! For my side, I obviously had to try the mac n cheese, but it was probably the least impressive/unique/memorable thing I ate there (though I would still recommend it). My husband went with the pulled pork sammich and sweet potato fries- and while he enjoyed both, the Carolina Gold BBQ sauce (their honey BBQ) was definitely the stand out to him. Like, I may have to get some for his Christmas stocking... We finished the meal with some whiskey ice cream, which was the perfect ending to the perfect meal. The sweetness of ice cream with just enough of a hint of whiskey- definitely something to try with their praline cake or pecan pie next time! I have two small complaints, which is why the Smoke Shack is receiving 4/5 stars instead of 5/5 stars. 1.) The don't have any beer on tap (it's Milwaukee, come on!). 2.) The seating was a little crowded. While there are a few booths, most of the seating (especially for pairs) is more picnic style with a shared table, which just isn't my favorite. Overall, I would certainly recommend the Smoke Shack (as would my husband)- and, in fact, we already have!

    (4)

  • Justin L.

    Can I just live here? Seriously, Joe.There's got to be room upstairs for a small bed. The outside might look like they are getting ready to film the next installment in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series,but that's part of it's appeal. The dining room seats less than 50,and there's no real place to wait. It doesn't matter though,because the will text you when your table is ready so go enjoy the rest of the Third Ward. If you get there before they sell out, try the ribs (after 5pm). If the ribs are gone,try the brisket sandwich. If the brisket is gone, go earlier. Good food sells out fast.

    (4)

  • Deborah G.

    I had the Smoke Shack pulled pork at a corporate function a few months ago, and really enjoyed it. Being huge fans of good BBQ, my husband and I decided to go there for lunch to try out the rest of the menu. We were planning what we wanted before we even got there - me, pulled pork and brisket; him, ribs and rib tips. Imagine our shock and disappointment when we get to the restaurant only to be told they don't serve ribs at lunch. WHAT!? Call me silly but, a BBQ place that doesn't serve ribs ALL THE TIME? Any other BBQ place seems to be able to have ribs whenever they're open, including Ashley's, Speed Queen and even Famous Dave's. In fact, we were so disappointed we ended up walking out and heading a few miles south to Ashley's BBQ in Walkers Point. And guess what? They HAD RIBS! and they were delicious! And the service was great. No wonder Ashley's was voted best BBQ in Milwaukee. It will be a cold day in h*ll before we ever go to Smoke Shack again. Shame on you Smoke Shack for calling yourself a BBQ joint. That title should be revoked.

    (1)

  • Brian M.

    It's meat-tacular!! I love everything about this place. I love the meat in all of its poultry, porcine, and beefy goodness. I love the sauces, I love the cocktails. I even don't mind the "communal seating" policy. I find it funny that so many people are bothered by this. You don't bitch about seating next to a stranger at the bar, but when Suzy Hairnet and Johny Lunchbox are seated next to you at one of the tables, you get all weird. I like how they manage to put together a cool shit-shack vibe yet still be clean and up to code. Service has always been OK. Mostly young Ashley and Brittney types. I enjoy the bartenders when we sit at the bar. By far, always your best service option. One thing I don't like is their portions. I really wish they would give you twice as much as they do. It's not cheap to begin with. At least if they gave me a big pile of food, I wouldn't feel bad about the price. It's chicken and pork people, not fillet mignon and lobster. Minus one star for that. Two other redeeming factors here are the patio and the parking lot in back. It's soooo hard to park in the ward. The lot is really helpful. While you are waiting for your food, be sure to read the menu and find out what your blues name is. Mine is Buddy Legs Lee. I know, it's pretty crappy. I wish mine was Sticky Pickles Hawkins. Then I would really be cool.

    (4)

  • Mike L.

    Smoke Shack is incredible. My friends and I love the feel of this small BBQ joint. The lighting and music were great on our most recent visit. A nice sweet mild smoke smell in the air is perfect to get my bbq anticipation going. The staff made our experience 5 star all the way. Four slabs of baby back heaven for my friends and I were fresh out of the smoker. The meat with its dry rub was amazing. No sauce needed although I found the sauces to be very good. They have a nice variety of types based on regions. I found their house sauce to be my favorite now and it seems to have improved since our last visit. Mac and Cheese as a side was solid. With this bbq you pay for what you get! You get yourself some of the best Berkshire swine available and it makes a difference in the end product. Got a tour of their kitchen and was pleased to see it was super clean and the staff took time to answer my questions about their process. I'm still perfecting my ribs after all.... If I lived in Milwaukee I'd be going here once a month. Right now it's still a special treat that I don't get enough of. I will be back.

    (5)

  • Corey W.

    Have ordered food at Smoke Shack multiple times but last night was a horrible experience. We got there and was told they were out of multiple menu items, which was okay cause I have no problem trying something new. So me and my other friends ordered sandwiches and after a few minutes the waitress comes back and says they are out of buns. Are you kidding me BUNS! Really disappointed a restaurant I liked actually ran out of buns. Really Smoke Shack?!

    (3)

  • Hemanth S.

    Best BBQ in the State. The pulled pork is sublime followed only by the brisket. Tender, flavored with smoke and their house made sauces only increase your chance of BBQ-gasm. BBQ chips dusted with slice rub are the cherry on the sundae.

    (5)

  • Nikita V.

    Smoke Shack vs. Saz's State House? How can I choose, I love them both. But here's how Smoke Shack steals my taste buds... High-quality dry rubbed BBQ. And if you're a sauce fanatic like me, you'll love having a flight of homemade sauces at your fingertips to add as much or as little as you please. And no one's stopping you from using up the bottle. I can't get enough of the Kansas City and Golden sauces. If you order the Kansas City Eggrolls to start, you'll see just how balanced these sauces are when paired together. Can't get enough corn bread? This is the best! Think pound cake plus corn bread (I swear that's how this recipe came to be)! It's thick, buttery and flavorful. Everything you want in a good piece of cornbread - nothing dry about it. Finally - I'm a big fan of the Bershire pulled pork and Berkshire sausage. One warning: if you're a rib or brisket lover, make sure you call ahead, meat is available on a first come first serve basis and they run out fast! It's a price to pay for high quality farm to table BBQ.

    (4)

  • Jake A.

    First time in the Midwest for a job and decided to hit up some BBQ before heading to Green Bay. I was recommended to check out the Historic Third Ward so decided on smoke shack. OMFG best pulled pork sammich I have ever shoved down my face! The different sauces and meat are sooooooo good. So if your are in the area get this. No exceptions.

    (5)

  • Amanda M.

    Delicious! It's my partners favorite MKE restaurant. We don't touch any other sauce than the Kansas City.

    (4)

  • Shin E.

    I'm from Texas and I'm pretty obsessed with BBQ. This is the closest you'll get to real BBQ in town but... Their prices are ridiculous. $19 for HALF a pound of brisket?! You can pay $13 for a full pound in Texas, and it'll be 10 times better than what they serve you COLD! Seriously, they served me cold brisket. Atmosphere is great. It almost feels like home. Seating is weird though. Instead of more smaller tables, they went with a few larger tables to seat more people. A little awkward, but it's alright. I've been here twice, and it's been really hard trying to justify another visit, because of their outrageous prices for COLD BRISKET. Yes, I'm very annoyed with that.

    (3)

  • Leann P.

    I loved that I could smell the Smoke Shack's food from 2 blocks away! By the time we got there, I could not wait to dig in to some delicious BBQ. I decided to try the pulled pork egg rolls. They were delicious! I am so glad I decided to try them. I ordered these for lunch and only ate 5 of the 6 egg rolls (I was saving room for dessert). Unfortunately, my positive review ends with lunch. I did not eat all of my egg rolls so I could save some room for dessert. I would have been better off eating the last egg roll and skipping dessert. I was excited to try something different, so my husband and I ordered the bourbon bacon brownies with ice cream. The brownies and ice cream were delicious, but they were just that, brownies. We could not taste either the bacon or the bourbon.

    (4)

  • Kirsten R.

    Great Place to eat in Milwaukee. Place is small but when weather is nice there is an outdoor area. I like that the place is not huge, it gives it character. Food has consistently been good every time we have eaten here. A must try.

    (5)

  • Dan G.

    Smoke em if ya got em. Damn good BBQ right here. Simple little BBQ shack that had a nice patio outside. Pretty crowded for lunch and we took it to the bar. Our bartender was quick to get us going with a round of beers: Lakefront IPA for the lady and New Glarus Spotted Cow for me. We mulled over the menu for a bit and then got our order in. Kris had the chicken sammie and beans. I went with the brisket sammie, add a hot link, vinegar slaw and cornbread. Yes, that was quite a bit of food. Proud to say I put it all away with no problem. The brisket had a nice smoke ring to it and was good. I'm starting to think I'm more of a pork guy. The hot link was awesome, as were the sides. They have several homemade BBQ sauces to choose from. I used the Texas on my brisket and the Carolina mustard based on the hot link, which was fantastic. The habenero guy came over to join the party and kick it up a notch. That's a good one too. Not sure if they sell those, but I'll be checking on that next time. Another round of beers while we finished up our lunch, Dale's this time. About the only thing missing were draft beers. Sorry dude, no we didn't save room for dessert.

    (5)

  • Lucas B.

    I needed ribs badly after watching House of Cards, so my girlfriend and I went on a Tuesday evening. She had the Pulled Smart Chicken with the sweet and spicy beans; I had the Berkshire Spare Ribs with mac'n'cheese. We also had the Kansas City Egg Rolls. Absolutely DELICIOUS!!! Ribs were fall off the bone, and the flavor was so good, I really didn't need sauce (but come on, sauce is great too!). I really appreciate a place that can do spare ribs well. The egg rolls and beans were phenomenal. I'll leave the chicken and mac'n'cheese at great. I'll be going back for the ribs regularly and can't wait to try the brunch. If you want to nitpick the place, it doesn't have 1000 local beers on tap like the rest of Milwaukee, but you can only have so many Dale's Pale Ale when your stuffing your face with comfort food anyway.

    (5)

  • Jullian S.

    Really happy with this choice. I am already planning a 2nd visit. I came in knowing there will be limited seating, so that didn't bother me. Only down fall is they run out of some options rather early. Overall I will be back and I can't wait. See you soon!

    (4)

  • Jason C.

    Love this place, staff was very friendly and the food was outstanding, try the Nachos, they are to die for!

    (5)

  • Michael H.

    Good God - I've died and gone to BBQ heaven.....Recommend Egg Rolls and Combo plate washed down with a local brew. It's a long way from California but worth the return trip!!

    (5)

  • Laura J.

    Best corn bread I've ever had! The sweet and spicy beans have cilantro in them but the rest was soooooo good it didn't alter my 5* rating.

    (5)

  • Toni D.

    I'm not sure how I feel about this place. We liked the candied bacon appetizer but the mains were so-so. I had pulled pork and my husband had the brisket. It just didn't have a lot of flavor. The sauces helped where flavor was lacking. We will try again.

    (3)

  • Tracey O.

    The only BBQ in town that I will have.....great sauces fresh meat and amazing menu selection. The service is great as well. My only complaint is the size of this place....it only seats 47 and it can not only take awhile to get a table (no reservations) but it's a bit squishy once you get in there as well. It's definitely worth the wait and I still recommend it, but you need to expect and prepare for it before you go.

    (4)

  • Rick R.

    I waited a couple of weeks before I had my first visit, as I typically try to do with new restaurants. I had heard mixed reviews before I visited, but this review is about MY experience. I was greeted by friendly and outgoing hostesses and bartenders. Smoke Shack seats 47, and maybe there were 10 others there when I arrived at 5:30 on a Wednesday night. I like root beer with my barbecue, and Smoke Shack carries Sprecher. It came in a can, which I had not seen before (still taste great!). The timing of my visit was great because they were experimenting with beef ribs, which happen to be my favorite. I love those huge, meaty, Fred Flinstone sized ribs (Google it if you're too young to understand). So I got to try a sample and I loved them! I'm looking forward to a large order on a future visit. My dinner consisted of the Four-Meat Combo with a side of Decadent Mac & 4-Cheese. When the platter arrived, the party in my mouth began. I started with the beef brisket. It was just a little too fatty for me, but I did like the flavor and enjoyed the brisket nonetheless. I prefer my brisket to be more lean, but restaurants have to be careful not to let the brisket get dry, so they decided to err on the side of caution. Then I took a bite of each of the remaining meats while they were still hot on my plate, and focused on the pulled chicken while it was still moist. It was one of the best tasting chicken dishes I've ever had. It's marinated in a Rosemary wet rub, and the flavor combined with the moisture makes this chicken special! On to the moist and tender pulled pork. It was suggested that I add some of the pulled pork to the bottom of the mac & cheese and mix it together...oh yeah, that's awesome! I'm not a huge mac & cheese guy, but there are a few places in Milwaukee that do it so well that I have no choice but to love it. Smoke Shack is in that small group. Even before I added the pulled pork, I thought the Decadent Mac & 4-Cheese was outstanding. Taking a breath and using all of of my remaining will power, I moved on to the homemade smoked sausages. They were amazing, far exceeding what I expected. Biting into the sausage, I noticed the crisp casing, then the burst of flavor and then the heat coming up on the end. The kick was enough for those who like spicy foods, but also subtle enough for those who don't. I tried but I just couldn't finish the sausage links. I'll blame it on the filling and delicious homemade corn bread. Hopefully, you noticed that I didn't mention anything about the sauces the Smoke Shack offers. I totally agree with Brad S. when he stated that good barbecue shouldn't need sauce in his review. I didn't want to ruin anything. However, I was curious about the sauces, so I put a few drops of each on a little pulled pork and chicken. I think the Kansas City was my favorite but all were good. I can't wait to go back and try the various choices for ribs!

    (5)

  • Witne N.

    Totally love the smoke shack. I love the atmosphere, and the food is pretty good! The sauces are good too. Had a good time hanging out here.

    (4)

  • Zach K.

    Unforgettable experience! We had heard great things about it! The atmosphere was amazing and it was warm enough to be seated outdoors. As we waited for our drink orders a flock of birds flew overhead and crapped all over the place. LIterally the entire deck looked like it had been hit by machine-gun fire. Ours and a few closest tables had been hit the worst. We had poop in our hair, our waters, and all of the menus and what could quite possibly be turned into a great experience/laugh went the total opposite! Our server and the two servers who had seen it happened took the first opportunity to flee inside so as not to have to deal with our needs for rags and towels. A busser came out with a few towels and spray bottle. Not ONE apology, nor was there even any sympathy given to the fact that we were covered in shit! Nothing was comped! No apologies! Our server was terrible and unfriendly. The food was good and the sauces were fantastic but never was there any sort of compensation for our pooped on attire and hair and table. Probably never go back again!

    (1)

  • Zach S.

    I really don't enjoy the seating. It's a bit cramped and uncomfortable for my taste. The food wasn't my favorite Q but there were some highlights. The meat always has excellent smoke and flavor. But it's also usually very dry. The sauces don't seem to be enough to moisturize the meat. The cocktails are pretty good. I haven't been there for a while but brunch has me intrigued. We'll be in to try it.

    (4)

  • Brian H.

    Well, I showed up on a Friday, and they told me the smoker had broken the previous night and they had no pulled pork or brisket. What a let-down! I was prepared to get something lame instead, and resolved that this would probably ruin my Smoke Shack first impression. However, it was Friday, so the special was Mac n Cheese... with shrimp, okra, and cilantro and then drizzled with Texas BBQ sauce. FACE. MELTING. GOOD. Holy crap. Seriously. Best Mac n Cheese I've had in my entire life. Then I got the check... $10? I was expecting $15. That bowl was as big as my head! Double win! So, I thought this would be a 1 star rating... I came for Brisket! However, that ballin' Mac n Cheese redeemed you all the way back to uphold a 4 star from me. We'll see if the Brisket can earn an update and 5 stars NEXT time...

    (4)

  • Brian M.

    This is a small joint with great atmosphere and welcoming environment. Had the burnt tips and was very good. So decided to order the baby back ribs. The flavor was excellent However were a bit dry and my guess is why ribs were not pull off the bone. Desert was a great pecan pie with whiskey ice cream. Think next time would stick with vanilla. overall a nice BBQ joint with room to grow.

    (4)

  • Pamela M.

    Overall, I was not impressed with the smoke shack. They don't have ribs before a certain time, would be nice if that was made more clear (or policy changed overall). The sides were really HORRIBLE! The greens were doused in vinegar. Prob one of the worst mac and cheeses I've ever had. While some may enjoy - I did not at all the candied bacon, waaay toooo sweeet! Even the dude didn't like it. Crazy! All men love bacon! And sugar! Fried green tomatoes... "ok". The meat was very good and I liked the sauces. Eggrolls - great! They need to up their game.

    (2)

  • Steve E.

    Pulled pork is pure awesomeness!

    (5)

  • Erika J.

    I loved this place! We were visiting Milwaukee just to get away for the day. We were at the Discovery Center when we got hungry. I looked up what was nearby, and because we are huge BBQ fans, quickly decided on this place. We got parking right across the street and were a bit taken aback by the shanty look of the place from the outside. We went in and were surprised by the trendy, rustic decor. Loved the blues music. We got a complimentary cinnamon roll which was quite delicious. I was very disappointed to find that there was no kid's menu. BUT that was my only big disappointment. I had the burnt ends Benedict - a special on their brunch menu. Loved it. Two halves of an English muffin with the burnt ends and a poached egg on each. I used their house BBQ sauce on it - my favorite. It came with a side of fried potatoes with rosemary and they were not at all greasy. My little guy had a fried chicken leg on a poblano waffle. The chicken was so tender and had a great smoky flavor. The waffle was good for me but too spicy for my 6 year old. It came with an apple syrup. My husband had the brisket sandwich and loved the Kansas City sauce. He got the sweet potato fries. My mother in law had the pulled chicken sandwich and my daughter had the pulled pork sandwich, both with chips. We all tasted a bit of each others meat and every person's meal had wonderful flavor and it was all so tender. We wanted to try the Bourbon bacon brownies for dessert, but the server described the brownies as 3 small ones with ice cream on top for $7. Thought that was a bit pricy. We were also quite full already and had a 2 and 1/2 hour ride back home to sit with our bloated bellies. :) Our server was nice but not overly friendly. Prices averaged in the teens for most meals. I wish it were closer to home because this would become a regular. Guess we will have to find reasons to visit Milwaukee more often.

    (5)

  • Joanna T.

    Here's the thing....I love BBQ (the smoked meat) but loathe BBQ sauce. So I figured Smoke Shack would be right up my alley as all meats are served "dry" - that, and the fact that every carnivore in MKE has been in love with the Shack.... Atmosphere: B It's "shack-y" all right, in a clean, pre-fab way. I don't love the sit-with-strangers concept so we opted to sit at the bar. You should do this, even if tables are available. It's the place to be. Meat: A The Mister and I split the 4 Meat Sampler (sausage, chicken, pork, brisket). Hot damn! Everything was moist without being fatty - honestly, it would be hard to pick a favorite as it was all absolutely delicious. I did love the chicken, the pork, the brisket and the sausage....oh wait, that's everything! Sauce: B+ I am a sauce hater but took the bartenders advice to pair the sausage with the Carolina Mustard sauce - delicious + perfect! For the rest I used the "Super Habenero Flames of Death" sauce (not the actual name but you get the gist)....ehhh,,,,it just wasn't that spicy. Sides: B+ Mac'n'cheese = amazing. Cornbread = good, but would have liked some butter. Coleslaw = hubs says "ehhhh..." Service:A+ Our bartender/server was awesome! He was spot on with recommends, engaging and fun. Sit at the bar, y'all. Overall : B+\A- Honestly, the portions are not generous for the price (fill UP that crock of mac'n'cheese YO!) but the quality is high. Take it from someone who is totally in no way a BBQ expert - Smoke Shack is worth a try.

    (4)

  • Michelle S.

    Let's just start by saying that I as a vegetarian for close to 30 years who does eat seafood on occasion, was not exactly looking forward to dining at a BBQ joint. Was dreading sitting at a table of carnivores gnawing on meat laden bones while my best hope of something to eat would be some sort of iceberg salad. Boy was I wrong! Imagine my pleasant surprise to see a BBQ seitan sandwich was offered. I started out with a refreshing Woodford Bourban cocktail made with fresh muddled berries. The sandwich was sauced with the house BBQ and I enhanced it a bit further with the mustardy Carolina sauce. Really good! The tangy coleslaw was a great accompaniment! I also tried the mac and cheese, little blah for me, and the greens which were a bit sweet and dry. The real stand out aside from the sandwich was the cornbread! Super moist and cake like. Would definately have loved to have the seitan served a top that rather than the bun! Lot's of the sides offered are vegetarian and are clearly marked as being so on the menu. Not being a meat eater, I really can't comment on what others had, but supposedly the brisket was really good. Two others had the double racks of ribs and apparently it was not falling off the bone tender the way they liked. The pit master came out and spoke with them which somehow resulted in one of the orders being taken off the bill. He decided maybe they were looking for a St. Louis style of rib which they apparently serve on Sunday's. Really not fair for me to comment on the meat seeing as I don't eat it, but they really liked the flavor and were looking for something more tender. I was very happy with my meal and will definately be going back!

    (4)

  • David F.

    Not impressed. Best thing on the menu is the nachos. I have yet to try the brisket because they always seem to be out of it.

    (3)

  • Michael P.

    Pulled pork with the Kansas City sauce was awesome! Also a great selection of specialty cocktails.

    (4)

  • Dave S.

    Best BBQ IMAO. Sit outside grab a beer, eat and repeat. Then it's nap time.

    (5)

  • Kris M.

    Are you kidding me? Saturday afternoon with an empty bar and a spaced out bartender-Aaron. Husband was offered a beer at the bar, but not me? Sorry dude we tried to engage you in conversation, but your mind is definitely elsewhere. We just left. Hate to keep reminding our ourselves that we are the customers!

    (1)

  • Kelly D.

    Good food and overall atmosphere but the portions were less than expected. The House sauce was not nearly as satisfying as the Kansas City sauce. The whiskey ice cream from Purple Door Ice Cream was splendid.

    (3)

  • Donald W.

    Bland brisket and pulled pork. Bland beans and bland sauces. And the meat was on the cool side. The Long Island sucked also.

    (1)

  • Steven P.

    Alright. Alright. I've been in Milwaukee for over a year and I finally tried Smoke Shack this past weekend after all my friends raving about their BBQ for months. Now, I'm a true sucker for some good BBQ, but it's always hard to find a place that does this well. First off, you'll notice I'm giving this an A-Ok. Although, I'm a fan of what I had, I'm not sure how frequent I would come back here. A place that specializes in meat can always be a little pricey. My meal consisted of candied bacon in a bed of sweet potato fries to start, then a pulled pork sandwich. The candied bacon was definitely amazing, but I'm not sure it was worth $8 for 7 strips. A pound of good bacon in the grocery store usually runs me around the same price. The pulled pork had a good smokey flavor but was a little on the dry side. I do enjoy how they hold off on the sauces, and provide you options at the table. I found myself trying different sauces for each bite which kept things interesting. And I like interesting. My friend had the ribs - which had an even better smokey flavor. But it didn't quite fall off the bone as I thought they would. And they were also on the fatty side. Maybe this isn't always the case? This is tough because I have a rule - if I can make it better, then I'd rather do that than pay for someone to make a meal for me. Service is pretty quick. We got our meals within 10 minutes of ordering. I'm assuming because they anticipate people will order specific meats. The patio seating was also nice and shaded even on the sunny day. Surrounded by buildings helps. Limited seating on the inside. Good and quick BBQ if you're looking for a night out. But also expect a small wait if patio seating isn't available.

    (3)

  • Kyle H.

    Smoke Shack, Baby, Smoke Shack Smoke Shack, Baby, Smoke Shack This funky little BBQ shack in Milwaukee's hip Third Ward is friendly, has great food and drinks, and a great patio. I've been here a few times and it's a keeper! My first meal started with the Roasted Poblano Corn Chowder, and it was great. Followed it up with the Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich and I was in heaven. Our server expertly explained all of their sauces on the table, including the 24 (per bottle) Habanero, that has a nice kick to it. That visit we finished with the much-touted Whiskey Ice Cream. It had a bit of a cinnamon flavor to it, but it did not wow me or my dining partner. My second meal (with Nick M. and Amanda G. in town) I tried the Fried Green Tomatoes that Nick ordered. With lemon zest and cilantro, and a nice spicy aioli (aka, "dippin' sauce"), these were some of the most unique Fried Green Tomatoes I've ever tried. Excellent. And I'm happy to report that their Pulled Pork Nachos made my Nachos A-List! A generous (huge) portion of Nachos with BBQ pulled pork, fresh jalapenos, red onion, black beans, sour cream, and real cheese were great as a meal! A+ Smoke Shack has a nice selection of Craft Beer, and knowledgeable and pleasant servers and staff. I'll definitely be back to Smoke Shack. And as I walk through the door I might even be yelling: "Tinnnnnnn Roof! (Rusted)". Smoke Shack, Baby, Smoke Shack Smoke Shack, Baby, Smoke Shack

    (5)

  • Dana W.

    From outside, Smoke Shack honestly just looks like a misplaced house in the middle of the Third Ward. Very Wizard of Oz. I can see how this place would easily go unnoticed. As expected, the inside of the restaurant is very small, but with the most fantastic feel of a cabin down south. For a while there I forgot I was in Milwaukee. Honest. The overall atmosphere of the restaurant is very inviting, yet lively. The interior fills up very quickly (I literally saw it happen before my eyes), and the ribs sell out very quickly so I would make it an earlyish dinner if you're planning on Smoke Shack. We arrived here at about 5:30pm, which turned out to be great timing because apparently they take all of their meat out of the smoker at about 5 o'clock daily. We ordered the pulled pork nachos as an appetizer, which were alright. Really, the pulled pork is the best part. Next time I would try something different and save the pork for my entree. Two in our group got the brisket sandwich for dinner. The great part about this option is that they give you the choice of lean or marbleized brisket. We got one of each, fearing that the lean brisket may be too dry, but we were wrong. Even the lean option was super juicy and flavorful. For our third entree option, we chose to ditch the bread and just go straight for the meat. I got a combo plate, which allows you to choose two, three or four meats for varying prices. I chose the pulled chicken (because I already had my fill of pulled pork) and pork loin. Pork loin was new to me until then, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but WOW. I got about four slices and it tasted a little like bacon, but not very fatty at all. The pulled chicken was also fantastic, not overcooked. All meat and sandwiches are dry-smoked, and are plated without sauce so that you can dress it up how you want with their four homemade sauces on each table. All of the sauces are unique and yummy, and there's also a small bottle of homemade hot sauce...but go easy on that. As far as the sides go, we had sweet potato fries, house-made chips and a red cabbage creamy coleslaw. I thought the sweet potato fries were nothing to write home about. I loved the coleslaw, which is a big step for me as I usually don't care for it. The chips were good, definitely above average for house-made. If we had had room at the end, I definitely would've jumped on that pecan pie, but next time. All in all, the service was great and the barbecue was probably the best I've ever had. It's not exactly a Milwaukee staple, so I wouldn't recommend this to out-of-towners, but if you live in the Milwaukee area and are looking for someplace new and delicious, Smoke Shack is a must.

    (5)

  • Jason G.

    brisket was excellent - tender, moist & delicious. pulled pork very good. collard greens were delicious, BUT not served with the pot liquor! it is an absolute cardinal sin to serve dry greens!!! if I hadn't taken a bite before noticing the lack of liquid, I'd have sent them back. sauces were good, but house & kc tasted a little too much like liquid smoke... grab the texas (or Carolina, if you dig mustard). subtracted one star for dry greens. waitress said they use tongs to plate them (which is fine), but PLEASE lake some juice over these bad boys!! service was excellent and location is close to waterfront/summerfest. ASK FOR EXTRA POT LIQUOR ON YOUR GREENS and you'll love this place.' red cabbage slaw was a nice touch and very tasty! I'll definitely be back.

    (3)

  • Cynthia P.

    Had a very enjoyable evening having dinner with friends on the patio. Food was very good and the portions were perfect.

    (4)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 10
  • Mon : 11:00 am - 10

Specialities

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

Smoke Shack

Share with your social network

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

© 2024 Restaurant Listings. All rights reserved.