Hickory's Smokehouse Earlswood — Restaurant in Stratford-on-Avon

Firstly as someone who likes to bbq and smoke low and slow at home on the bbq I have been really excited since I heard we were getting a hickory’s just ten minutes from home!!!

This is a brand new opening (less than two weeks of being open) so having experience in mobilisation of opening new sites within hospitality I’m aware everyone is singing off of the same hymn sheet when it comes to customer service, which first and for most I must say was extremely exceptional.

Right now to the experience.

As I mentioned this is a brand new opening so extremely busy!!

We tried to book in for a party of four (for my birthday)on a Saturday (the main night for any restaurant and only there second week of opening) understandably fully booked. So we turned up at 16:45 knowing restaurants sometimes have walk in tables reserved (if not no probs) spoke to the gentleman at the reception he informed us they had nothing for a table of 4 until 21:30 so I gave them my details as was more than happy to have a few drinks at the bar and wait (considering they were all booked out online) he also said he would come back to us within ten minutes to update us should there be any tables available or the chefs table before then. (We did not see or hear from him again!!)

Went to the bar there was a very good selection of draft, canned, spirits and cocktail drinks. I love Guinness and bourbon and was extremely happy to see Guinness served in a proper tulip glass! And a very good selection of bourbon.

They had some problems with the electrics (lights gone in toilets and could only serve some drinks from the taps)however someone came round to explain to all guests. So in my mind all good not there fault sometimes these things happen and at least they explained.

A lady came over shortly after to ask if we had booked and were waiting for a table, I explained our situation but also questioned that I had counted at least 14 tables free from when we had walked in that were still empty (tables set up for 2-8 guests) and that we had been here now at the bar for over two hours and surely we could of been seated at one of the tables and of eaten and been finished) she went back to check our booking and came back to say she couldn’t find the booking we had made so apologised and sat us down at a table of of four and gave us a round of free drinks to apologise! She don’t have to do this but was very much appreciated! (Would this happen 6-12 months after being open, probably not) but again was appreciated and welcomed.

Now the food I forget the lady’s name who was our waitress but she was friendly and assertive! We all ordered something different however as I mentioned I like to home bbq and smoke so went fully greedy boy and had the brisket(should be the main show stopper for any bbq house) and beef ribs now this is my one and only complaint the brisket was vile. Completely overcooked no tenderness zero smoke ring and the bark was none existent!! I was really gutted about this as it was just really poor and really shouldn’t have been served (Texas would be fuming if they saw) however the beef ribs were cooked to perfection!

Also just as a quick side note popped in today just for a drink (4th of March) and there was some bar training going on to which I was listening and was impressed with! Very in depth. The young girl was being shown how to make (my) traditional old fashioned which was very good!!!

Conclusion Ten out of ten So happy this is just down the road from me will 100% be back. Credit to all the staff just please hope the brisket has more care and not over cooked as that’s what I was looking forward...

Already a fan of Hickory's it was fantastic to see one opening that I can drive to in 10mins rather than 45 mins!

Firstly, the venue looks amazing. A lot of time and money has been spent and it shows. An inviting Hickory's red colour adorns the building, and it stands out looking inviting and somewhere that'll draw you in if you're driving past.

The outside certainly stands out, with a vast outdoor seating area and private 'cabins' to dine it. Will certainly look forward to visiting when the warm weather finally arrives.

We had a warm welcome on arrival, and immediately shown to our seats with a free portion of Hickory's popcorn and our drinks order taken.

We ordered: Frickles Smoky Bourbon Bacon Bites Texas Style Brisket, with a half rack of Memphis Style Baby Back Ribs in House BBQ Sauce Return of the (Hog) Mac n Cheese Side of Cajun Onion Rings

I’m always wary of ordering brisket, very few places get it right and it often comes out dry and may as well be roast beef. But was pleasantly impressed – full of flavour, decent smoke ring, and was juicy and tender. The pickles and slaw that came with it were fantastic. I would have just liked an extra slice, rather than two decent slices, and a tiny chunk tucked behind.

The Baby Back Ribs, however were disappointing. Dry, tough, and barely any meat on them. I couldn’t finish them unfortunately.

The Frickles and Onion Rings were literally the biggest I’ve ever seen of either. The Onions Rings were GIGANTIC. Must have used a whole onion for four rings – something I’m on board with!

We did, however, have some issues during our meal. Firstly the wrong starters came out so had to wait a little while longer for those. My brisket and ribs came out, but then a burger and side of tots came out for my partner instead of the mac n cheese and our side of onion rings. There was quite a wait for this to be sorted which is understandable but annoying when you’ve already had to wait for your starters. I ordered a second beer during the wait and I ended up having to order it 3 times for it to finally arrive.

No frustration at all with the issues. The team were very apologetic, and our server was clearly rattled by having numerous mistakes happen (happens to us all!). The restaurant was heaving (great to see) with numerous very large table bookings, and so it seemed to be a combination of busyness, a brand new restaurant, and a till system that apparently didn't like certain orders.

My concern is that you're given a 2hr slot, but with the mistakes in the food, time taken to order another drink, then wait for plates to be cleared, and bill to be given; we went over the 2hr period - I really doubt they would have pushed us out, but with how busy the restaurant was, another booking was likely delayed.

Overall, I'll come back. Hickory's is a great addition to Earlswood. But I'll be giving it a few weeks for the staff to settle into the new restaurant, and the glitches sort...

Should you go to Hickory’s or Orlean’s Smokehouse and American BBQ in Solihull?

Hickory’s is better than Orleans Smokehouse for the smokehouse platter in my opinion.

As Solihull residents have recently been blessed with 2 American Style Smokehouse Restaurant openings- both are good but Hickory’s is better than Orleans is essentially what you need to know.

My husband and I eat the smokehouse platter (for 1) between us at Orleans and Hickory’s so compared the same food at both. We found the taste, cook and quality of the food at Hickory’s to be superior.

Portions are very similar between both. The hot sauce selection and quality at Hickory’s was better, they had several branded bottles to try. The bbq gravy on the smokehouse platter at hickory’s was perfect for those who don’t enjoy spicy flavours.

The slaw is tasty here, with a hint of ranch, and pickles also have more flavour here as they’re steeped with jalapeños. I preferred the sausage from Orleans as the meat in the Cheese jalapeño sausage at hickories is very finely ground, not to my personal taste as much. However the pork ribs, chicken wings and pork n beans on the smokehouse platter here are far superior in my opinion- Smokey, tender and tasty.

We can both put away the food, we don’t have small appetites. However we found that the platter for one is filling enough (and more than enough calories) for 2 people. We treated ourselves to a couple of starters with the platter for one at Hickory’s and were absolutely stuffed by the end of the meal. We didn’t have starters at Orleans and also left feeling very full and satisfied.

Drinks wise Hickory’s and Orleans have a similar offering. At Hickory’s the cocktails were okay. Soft drinks including grape soda and root beer are sweet and authentic American flavours. They have their own beer on tap brewed by purity, as well as a number of import beers and American cans.

Price-wise both places are similar. At the time we eat Hickory’s charged around £3 more for their Platter for 1. What you get for this is similar to Orleans meatwise, but you get cornbread at Hickory’s and Mac and Cheese at Orleans. If Mac and cheese is a dealbreaker for you and you want to go to Hickory’s their side order of Mac and cheese looked great- but we had no room, we’ll try...