Holy Smokes BBQ — Restaurant in Banner Elk

My family and I visited there on Thursday, 7 January 2021. We had seen reviews and pictures about how awesome the place was. None of the reviews including this one do justice for the experience that you are about to have when you go to holy smokes barbecue in Beech Mountain. We absolutely loved it. The managers are awesome. One of them is the cook and the other run to the front. The owner who was also there runs gift shop. It was absolutely an amazing experience. The most Friendly people I have ever encountered at Beech Mountain, which is saying a lot because most everybody there is friendly. The cooks passion for his food is unmatched. From free samples of new things he was trying to the explanation of how he came to the recipe he did the whole thing attitude experience. Sausage fudge chicken pork you name it all of it was good. In speaking with the owner after our meal, we learned just how awesome the place was. All of the Proceeds from the business after bills are paid go towards helping churches and abused and neglected women. They have housing for them in a safe place for them to go and help them get back on their feet and help them stay in touch with the Lord And their faith. That was the over-the-top moment for me. This and see her genuine giving heart of the management staff and decision of the owner to help those in need is a plus in my book. Thank you so much Natalie for the food any experience but for what you are doing to help our fellow humans and their struggle through this life....

The staff was very friendly so for that reason I couldn't just give one star however the food, ugh doesn't even deserve a star. We came in and ordered beef brisket dinners to go last week (4 of them). I'm pretty sure the meat was boiled, it was most certainly not grilled or baked. It actually lacked any taste and the only saving grace was the barque sauce but even that didn't make it edible. The onion rings were anything but crispy and later we found out they do not fry them in oil but only in an air fryer. I'm pretty sure they're just a bag of generic Food Lion frozen onion rings tossed in a air fryer to warm up but they were certainly not crispy. The only vegetable available was green beans which were obviously straight out of the can (possibly a little doctored up but certainly not fresh). What wasn't available due to it being a week night and not weekend was the mac and cheese, Baked beans, coleslaw..... I'm honestly at loss as to what would help, maybe your cook can get a spot on "Worse Cooks in America" or maybe you can get Robert Irvine to make over your menu. On a side note the gift shop was adorable and fudge looked good however I didn't try it so I...

The restaurant has to go food or eat in . We spent $32 for lunch for 2.

They only have Pepsi products we opted for the water cup & ice . We used our personal Diet Coke from our cooler in the car. The employee approached us while eating & accused us of stealing drinks & proceeded to demand us to pay. When I explained to the employee we brought from our car she questioned me again since our second bottle was full on the table & our cups were full with soda that we must’ve lied. I explained the other bottle was in the trash. Why would I steal a drink & leave an optional 15% tip on a fast food counter service? The restaurant has “surveillance “ video signage all over the business.

I’m pretty sure they reviewed the footage before we left. I’ve never been accused of stealing before & at least not given the benefit of the doubt & then second guessing me after my explanation.

It really is a shame of the treatment we were Given on Christmas Eve because the bbq was delicious & I would’ve of loved to buy some...