Smoke Shack

A group of 7 of us went to the smoke shack on a Friday night. After our entire party arrived, we were seated immediately. It’s a cozy shack, with seating for about 50 people or so. I liked the feel of the place. We placed our orders and were told that the ribs were just coming out of the smokers so we were just in time. I ordered the 2 meat combo meal, and my choice was the pulled pork and the brisket. You also could pick a side, so I ordered the mac & cheese. The meat came out with no sauce, however, at the table there were bottles of sauce for you to add to your liking. The sauce options that they had were Kansas City, Texas BBQ, House BBQ, Carolina Gold and a Habanero sauce. I really liked that they did this, as sometimes there tends to be too much sauce. I really liked the House sauce, and the Carolina sauce, which was more of a mustard based sauce, and was also really good. I was able to sample the pulled chicken, and the Berkshire sausage. The sausage was really good. It had a great flavor and a bit of a kick to it. I also tried the greens which I wish I had gotten instead of the mac and cheese. Not that the mac and cheese was bad, I just liked the greens better. I didn’t think there was anything really special about the pulled chicken or pork, but I really loved the brisket. I split a bacon bourbon brownie for desert, but it wasn’t something I’d have to rush out and have again. Seemed a bit dry, and really not what I was expecting. Overall, I loved the look and feel of the place, service was great, and I would go back again.

This was a place I was always curious to try. I finally got the chance this evening with my girlfriend and her family. It is a small place in the 3rd Ward and when they say “shack” they mean that. It is meant to look that way, like an old time smoke house which gives the establishment a nice feel. The service was prompt and we were seated immediately even though we had seven in our party. We ordered our drinks and they came even before we could decide on dinner. For dinner I ordered the two meat combo and selected the Pulled Chicken and the Berkshire Sausage with a side of Sweet and Spicy beans. The food came quicker than expected which was nice. I thought the chicken had no special flavor to it and I did not like the beans at all so I dressed them up with there house sauce. They have three sauces at every table, Texas, Carolina, Kansas City and there house blend. My favorite was the house and the Carolina which is a mustard and vinegar blend. Very tangy. The Berkshire Sausage was amazing! Great flavor and spice! Loved it! My girlfriend and I shared the brownie dessert and I could have pasted on it. Nothing special. I would definately go back though for more of the sausages!

Intimate (cozy) gem in Milwaukee’s 3rd Ward. Used to be a crazy dive bar hold out from when 3rd ward was all blue collar workers. Times have changed and the place got reinvented.

Now it is a custom themed restaurant with a southern rustic early 1900s mineshaft feel designed by Flux Design. Really feels like you have stepped into a different world.

Cozy joint with booths, bar, and communal tables (take the communal tables – they are fun!)

The story is the wife of the owner is vegetarian, so there are definitely vegetarian options on the menue and the meat is Certified humanely raised. All the meats are “dry rubbed, slow smoked and sauced by you.”

Don’t miss slaw – simple red cabbage slaw with a hint of smokey.

Whether or not you are vegetarian or vegan, the BBQ Seitan Sammich is killer awesome and inspiring.

Located right next to Coquette, I was advised that this place was “small” but that word doesn’t quite describe it. I knew the address so I just parked and then stood on the sidewalk staring until I figured it might actually be inside the building that houses The Cupcake Company, Speedy Print and Coquette. Wrong. As I was crossing the street, I noticed this tiny shack cowering in the shadows between two hulking commercial buildings. I thought, “No way… that’s not even the size of a two-car garage.” Well… welcome to the Smoke Shack!