Station One Smokehouse — Restaurant in Bristol Township

My fiancée and I have been fans of Station One Smokehouse in Plainfield, having enjoyed several meals there. So, when we heard about their new Yorkville location, we were eager to check it out. We ended up visiting twice in one week – once for a date night and once with family – and here's what we found.

Ambiance and Setup The Yorkville location, a newly constructed building, is much more spacious and well-laid-out compared to its predecessor. The bar, centrally located, creates a vibrant hub, and the indoor-outdoor dining area was perfect for the pleasant spring weather, adding to the overall atmosphere.

Drinks I sampled both the Manhattan and Old Fashioned. While neither was overpriced, the Manhattan stood out as the better of the two, offering a well-balanced mix that hit the spot.

Food We always order the sliced brisket, and this time, we also tried the pork burnt ends. A pro tip for brisket lovers: ask for slices from the point end of the brisket for that perfect balance of tenderness and flavor. The pork burnt ends were a revelation – perfectly tender, juicy, and well-sized.

Interestingly, the meat at this new location was even better than what we’ve had in Plainfield. However, the sides were a mixed bag. The mac and cheese, unfortunately, was too runny both times we tried it. On the other hand, the brisket chili and cornbread were fantastic, especially if you ask for the honey butter on top.

Dining Experience Timing your visit can significantly impact your experience. We found that a Wednesday evening at 6 PM was ideal – no lines and all the menu favorites were available. However, a Saturday at 5 PM was a different story. We waited an hour to be seated, and the line doubled while we were eating. They also sold out of brisket, so plan to arrive early.

Overall Impression We give the Yorkville Station One Smokehouse a solid 7.2/10. It’s one of the better BBQ spots in the western suburbs. Expect to spend a decent amount, with most half-pound dishes priced around $15 and sides ranging from $4 to $8. The main area for improvement is the pace of service – some senior staff need to bring the new team up to speed to match the efficiency of the Plainfield location.

This spot is very family-friendly, and the generous portions make it easy to share dishes. All in all, it’s a great place for a hearty BBQ meal...

Immediately as you step through the front doors, you feel as if you are King of "Low and Slow" Land. Your village is bustling with a warm environment of passionate BBQ enthusiasts, a sweet aroma of Blue Smoke and Burnt Ends in the air, and welcoming staff whose duty is to send you into a meat sweat coma. Once you've ordered and taken your food to a table full of your fellow Knights of the Round Smoke ring, you are able to identify a beautiful cascade of flavor running over the many amazing items that you have procured for your feast. Upon first bite into one of the many delicious cuts of smoked goodness, you are transported into the Maillard Reaction and find yourself immersed into an abundance of savory and sweet flavors of deliciousness. My personal favorite is the pastrami and smoked turkey club, which are second to none. Station One does BBQ unlike any other in the area. Be understanding with the staff, especially during lunch and dinner rushes, as they are a small business trying to maintain a fantastic product. Remember that this is not a corporate operation and have empathy that they are trying to provide the absolute best service to their capabilities in those moments of culinary chaos. Unfortunately, there are some of you who will never be pleased with every aspect of your dining experience, but for those of us not jaded by the instantaneous expectations that our society breeds, do yourself a favor and take in all aspects of the environment. Do yourself a favor and finish off your meal with a delicious piece of corn bread with butter, bread pudding or a nice hand crafted old fashion that is sure to propel you into BBQ Nirvana.

Side Note: Make sure you ask for a side of spicy pickles. They are...

I'm going to preface this review by saying I'm a big supporter of new businesses everywhere, especially restaurants, but my hubby & I tried Station One Smokehouse for the 1st & last time today. So, let's get started... -Location is good, plenty of parking and decor was appealing. -The guy that takes the order for the meats was not friendly and neither were the other workers. Some of them seemed to be tired & so slow that I thought they were walking backwards. -We both ordered pulled pork sandwich & were charged for 2 brisket sandwiches instead. I didn't notice this error until I returned home. However, I did notice that their website lists a pulled pork sandwich as $9.99, on the board at the Yorkville location, it's listed as $11.99, and when I looked at my receipt, it reads "brisket sandwich" at $29.98 for 2. Brisket was VERY fatty and greasy. Sauces were meh. -Fries were OVERLY salted. It was more salt than potatoes. Neither of us ate our fries. -Coleslaw didn't really have a taste -Mac & Cheese was just ok. Crumble topping was salty. See a pattern here? -We didn't try the fountain drinks (we probably should have), but noticed that the raspberry tea seemed watered down. -We mentioned to one of the workers that the fries were too salty & he said nothing, absolutely no reply, not even an apology. What did we enjoy eating at Station One Smokehouse? Nothing. We should have eaten at Hacienda Real or Crusade Burger instead (both in Yorkville). At least we would have eaten great food, no matter what we ordered. Don't need a reply from the manager, because we won't be going back & if asked, will suggest other restaurants in Yorkville or...