Smoke Bar and Restaurant — Restaurant in Ilocos Norte

Smoke is tucked away next to the cathedral on the first floor of what looked like an old monastery , offering a beautiful view of the cathedral park, buttress, and front facade.

The open windows and floor-standing fans give the place a nice breezy atmosphere. The entrance is up a short flight of stairs to the left of a building that, from the outside, looks a bit run-down.

There’s a lovely (though currently non-functioning) fountain in a courtyard downstairs that seems to be undergoing some renovation, with visible construction at the side and front which unfortunately affects the ambience with the noise.

The food was a mixed experience. Ordered the beef brisket with Brisket Platter for 1000 pesos: Smoked Brisket served with Baked Mac and Cheese, Cornbread, Coleslaw, and rice which was for 2. We swapped the rice and cornbread for mash and they charged us for the difference of the individual items.

The beef brisket, unfortunately, was dry and overcooked—an underwhelming 200g portion. Feedback to the owner about this was met with little acknowledgment, which was disappointing.

On the other hand, the sides fared better. The mashed potato was creamy and well-textured—neither too rich nor bland. The mac and cheese struck a good balance: creamy without being too heavy, with just the right amount of cheese. The mushroom and pepper sauce was flavourful and paired nicely with the sides.

The coleslaw was a pleasant surprise—well-balanced with a touch of sourness, and not overly sweet.

For dessert, the calamansi square was tasty, reminiscent of a Bakewell tart with a citrus twist. It was a nice end to the meal, though the portion was quite small.

The ambience was generally pleasant, but the noise from ongoing construction occasionally disrupted...

Ambiance: The place is well ventilated and has a beauitful view of the Paoay Church. Definitely instagrammable.

Service: Staff are very friendly and respectful. They answered our questions patiently. You can also ask them to take your group pictures. However, the food took a little bit long to be served, contrary to what they said that waiting time is 10 minutes. The salad which was an appetizer and was to be served first, was served after the main dishes.

Food: It's my first time to eat American smoked meat so I'm not sure if this is how it really tastes like. The Ribs on Rice was bland for my taste. I wasn't able to finish it. Some of us ordered the Smoked Baby Back Ribs and it was too charred that it became very bitter. We had to return it and just had a replacement. The bagnet was a disappointment. It had no taste even after you dip it in vinegar. The Ilocos bagnet we've eaten before in different restaurants tasted so good it can be eaten without a dip. Another thing is the salad. It had bits of plastic in it. :( All in all, the food as okay IF you simply want to fill your hunger. Hope they can improve this.

Price: It is affordable, but with the kind of food we had, it wasn't worth it.

Hoping this gets...

I recently dined at Smoke Bar and Restaurant in Paoay, located on the second level of a building near the picturesque Paoay Church. The restaurant's open-air layout allows for a refreshing dining experience, complemented by natural wind and light. While I'm unsure if they have dedicated parking, we parked at the nearby Paoay Church parking area without any issues.

Now, let's talk about the food – it was fantastic! I highly recommend their pasta, especially the pomodoro with shrimp. The portion size was generous, packed with plenty of meat and flavor, perfect for sharing between two people. Additionally, their chicken gumbo was a standout dish. The chicken was incredibly tender, paired with a generous mix of veggies and a hearty serving of rice, making it a satisfying meal in itself.

Considering the quality and portion sizes, the prices ranging from 200 to 600 pesos were definitely worth it. Smoke Bar and Restaurant is a must-visit for anyone looking for delicious food and a great dining...