Smokey Bones Bowie — Restaurant in Bowie

The menu features staples like brisket, pulled pork, ribs, smoked chicken, and house-made sausage. I opted for the Pitmaster Sampler—a hefty platter that came with brisket, ribs, sausage, and pulled pork, along with two sides and cornbread.

The brisket was the immediate standout. Thick slices revealed a pink smoke ring and a tender interior with just enough bark to add texture and flavor. Smokey Ridge’s brisket walks the fine line between melt-in-your-mouth and still having a little chew—a balance few places get right. Each bite was rich, juicy, and deeply infused with smoke, yet never overwhelming.

The ribs were dry-rubbed and slow-cooked to the point that they pulled clean off the bone. Their rub had a slight heat that lingered pleasantly without dominating the flavor. While some prefer sauced ribs, I appreciated that these let the meat—and the smoke—do the talking. That said, a tangy house-made Kansas City-style sauce on the side was the perfect complement for those who wanted a little extra.

The pulled pork was moist and subtly flavored, with a texture that suggested it had been smoked low and slow for hours. It wasn’t the most memorable meat of the night, but it served as a great base for sampling the full array of Smokey Ridge’s sauces: a spicy vinegar-based Carolina, a sweet molasses glaze, and a mustard-forward South Carolina gold.

In many barbecue joints, sides are an afterthought. Not here. The bacon mac and cheese was outrageously creamy, topped with a crunchy breadcrumb crust and chunks of crispy pork belly. The collard greens were slow-braised with smoked ham hock, deeply savory with just the right amount of vinegar to cut through the richness. Other standout sides included smoked baked beans with burnt ends, creamy coleslaw (refreshing and not overly sweet), and sweet potato mash with a maple-brown butter glaze.

The cornbread deserves a paragraph of its own. It came warm in a small cast-iron skillet, golden on the outside and soft on the inside, with flecks of jalapeño and just a touch of honey. It was hearty, slightly spicy, and not overly sweet—a perfect balance that could stand alone or soak up sauces with ease.

Smokey Ridge is a place where families come for dinner after baseball games, where bikers stop on scenic rides, and where foodies gather for the monthly “Pit Nights” that feature experimental cuts and seasonal specials. Service was friendly and quick. Our server, Mia, knew the menu inside and out and offered helpful suggestions based on our preferences. Despite the place being busy on a Friday night, the wait never felt long, and the staff moved with a smooth rhythm that kept everything running efficiently.

Out back, there’s a covered patio with picnic tables and string lights, perfect for summer evenings. There’s even live music on weekends—nothing too loud, just some blues, country, or folk played by local talent. It’s a small touch, but one that makes the dining experience feel more like a gathering than just a meal.

Barbecue isn’t cheap when it’s done right—and Smokey Ridge isn’t trying to be a budget joint. That said, the prices feel fair. The Pitmaster Sampler came in at $27 and could easily feed two, especially with generous sides. Sandwiches run about $12, and platters range from $15–25 depending on the meat and combo. For the quality and portion sizes, the value is excellent. You’re not just paying for food—you’re paying for hours of smoke, attention to detail, and ingredients that are clearly chosen with care.

Whether you’re a die-hard BBQ aficionado or just someone in search of a hearty, satisfying meal, Smokey Ridge BBQ is absolutely worth the detour. The care that goes into every plate—from the meat to the sides to the homemade sauces—makes this place stand out. It’s the kind of restaurant that doesn’t just feed you. It reminds you why good...

If I Could Have Given Zero Stars I Surely Would Have. I Placed An Order On Friday Night, Me And My Family Were Excited To Try The Signature BBQ Burger That Should Have Came With Pulled Pork Coleslaw, Cheese, Fried Pickles Memphis Seasoning And KC BBQ Sauce…. Instead I Got A Burger With Cheese, Fried Pickles And Nothing Else, Not Even Sauce. Mind You The Burger Is Around 20 Dollars And All Because They Were Out Of Pulled Pork They Decided It Was Best To Give It That Way Without Even Letting Us Know They Were Out. Had I Not Checked The Order At The Car I Would Have Taken It Home That Way. Upon Going Back In They Then Decided After I Told Them That The Burger Was Missing Half Of Everything On It To Say They Were Out But They Can Give The Coleslaw And Pulled Chicken. I Then Stated That I Would Like A Refund And Upon The Manager On Duty That Night Due To Me Ordering Online He Stated He Could Not Issue A Refund And I Had To Wait Until Morning For The General Manager To Refund. Which Is Ridiculous, So I Not Only Left Without Any Food But My 102 Dollars That I Paid. It Was Stated That The General Manager Would Be At The Location In The Morning And Would Process My Refund Without Me Coming Back, But I Stated That I Would Come Back In The Morning. I Got There In The Morning A Little After 11, Like 11:10 Or So. I Asked To Speak With The General Manager And It Was Stated By The Cashier That He Was Not In The Building And She Could Get The Kitchen Manager. He Comes Out And Listen To My Issue And States That The GM Was Not At The Location Due To Him Being Called To Go To A Va Location And He Would Be Back In Two Hours And I Could Be Helped Then. He Did Offer To Replace The Food But I Got The Food For Dinner Not Breakfast The Next Day. So Upon Leaving I Felt As If I Was Getting The Run Around So I Called Around To The Va Location To Find The GM To The Bowie, MD Location And A Lovely Manager At A Va Location Helped Me Without Any Hesitation. Mind You I Asked The Manager To Call The GM To See If He Placed The Refund Already And To Get An Update And They Stated That They Could Not Do That. What Type Of Establishment Can’t Get In Contact With The Person Who Is In Charge Of The Establishment. So After About Five Or Ten Minutes Of Hanging Up With The Va Manager, My Refund Was Processed. This Is What The Managers Of That Bowie Location Could Have Done. But Instead They Played Games. The Cook That Was Working That Night Needs To Be Better Dressed. His Stomach Was Hanging Out His Pants And He Did Not Look Presentable At All. That Was Another Reason I Was Not Willing To Accept The Food. He Present Himself Like That And No Manager Addresses It I Can Only Imagine The Food Safety There. This Was By Far The Worse Experience And I Will Never Visit This Location Again. Train Your Managers Better And Get Your Cook A Bigger Shirt And Belt. Nobody Should Have To See His Stomach Hanging Out His Shirt. Wish I Would Have Taken More Picture But Then I Also Got Two Different Wing Flavors That Was Stuffed In The Same Container, How Disgusting. What If Someone Was Allergic To One Of The Sauce. I’m Disgusted By How I Was Handled. The Cheese Fries...

Where do I begin. Customer service was great and they were very friendly. But the food, never again! Appetizers: small chef salad, small Caesar salad and side of regular French fries. We received our appetizers when we got our meal. I thought the purpose of appetizers was to get it before your meal. Main course: 1st order: pulled pork Sammy with butter and sour cream baked potatoe. What she was given: the sandwich with burnt potatoes wedges. 2nd order: all good. 3rd order (me): 6 wings with lemon pepper and old bay seasoning and potatoes wedges. What I was given: after waiting an additional 20 minutes (because they forgot) honey wings with one of the flats dashed with lemon pepper spice. The others had no spices on them. We had to keep flagging down a waiter because no one would come by. When one of our several waiters eventually came around (they kept passing us to different people) he asked how the wings were. I told him it wasn't what I ordered. Not even close. His response "I made sure to sprinkle lemon pepper on them." I explained I asked for lemon pepper and old bay. This is honey with 1 of the wings sprinkled with lemon pepper. It's still not what I ordered. I did NOT return the wings because I knew I'd be waiting another 45mins to get them. The wedges are literally potatoes cut into wedges and dropped in grease. They have no taste at all. No flour. Not dipped in a batter. Nothing. They didn't ask about our drinks so I jokingly gave my drink order, that was another 15mins wait. Moving along, we were ready to leave. The food sucked and we were all extremely annoyed. We requested our check and a small to-go box. After 20mins, no one came. I went to the counter and asked for the check and box. Both, I received. Went back to sit to wait for a waiter to come by, which I was told to do and nothing. I honestly just wanted to leave. Having to wait 30mins for someone to TAKE OUR MONEY, made no sense. Finally, we flagged someone down, who then came to cash us out. Think anyone offered us a discount or a gift card for a free appetizer at least for all the crap we went through, nope. We weren't expecting it but God grief! This place was an extreme disappointment. Especially with little to no one there. There was more staff than patrons, so I don't understand the extreme wait times. As bad as the food was, they were ALWAYS very kind and professional. But I'll never ever go back. To add icing on the cake, 2 of us traveled to Maryland to visit another family member that lives in the area. They choose this place because they wanted to go before we got on the road for our 3 hour trip. Hands down, this was the absolute worst part of the trip. 2 out of 10. Do...