Smokehouse — Restaurant in Charleston

Really bad experience with the way staff treated me. I ask the gentleman what comes on the hot bologna sandwich as the menu doesn’t say. He tells me I can have whatever I want on it so I say okay perfect then I just want it with lettuce, tomato, and mayo, onions if theyre not the purple kind. Gentleman taking our order glances to a man standing next to him about the onions, man says he’s one of the cooks it’s not purple onions. I say perfect that’s what I’ll have. Bologna sandwich comes out with BBQ sauce on the top and bottom bun. Not a big deal I’m looking at it, gonna wipe the bbq sauce with a napkin if I can but the waiter noticed me taking it apart and asked what was wrong. I cannot emphasize enough how NOT a big deal this was to me. I don’t eat bbq sauce sure, but errors happen I don’t care so I just mentioned oh I didn’t know bbq sauce would be on it. So they take it back to remake it and I’m so apologetic but thanking them and again not upset.

Problem was no less than FOUR of their employees proceeded to come up to me at the bar to lecture me for ordering the hot bologna sandwich when I obviously wanted the fried bologna sandwich. Saying that bbq sauce comes on the hot bologna sandwich and not on the fried bologna sandwich so I wanted the fried bologna sandwich but I ordered the hot bologna and that’s why it had bbq sauce on. I’m not even exaggerating 4 of them came up to me directly to tell me that in that long winded way. Even the cook who stood right next to the waiter while I asked what came on the sandwich came from the back to lecture me about the bologna sandwich varieties. I was sat at the bar as small as I could make myself holding back tears red as a tomato.. they take the old sandwich with bbq sauce to a worker and ask if he wants the sandwich and how “yea she ordered it and doesn’t like bbq sauce so we have to remake it”. That guy eats it and proceeds to make comments about of course it has bbq sauce it’s the hot bologna sandwich why’d she order that if she doesn’t like bbq sauce.

I could understand if I was causing a fuss or being a Karen but I wasn’t even going to send it back! I did everything I thought I could, I’d told them it was my first time there, I asked what came on the sandwich and was told however I wanted it. I understand it’s an old school place with a lot of history in the community so maybe they expect everyone to know what comes on their food but idk... their reaction just felt so extreme for something I wasn’t even upset or complaining about to begin with. I also don’t even see a fried bologna sandwich listed...

All the racial stories are true. When me and my husband first came in they were already being rude as soon as we stepped inside. Neither myself or my husband has ordered or even been to this establishment but we are always looking to try new foods so we wanted to come here and try their food. When we came in like l said they were rude off the jump didn’t greet us nor gave us a booth or table to sit at. The store owner had his pen and notebook in his hand and just immediately asked what we were ordering mind you we’ve never been to this establishment to know off the top of our heads what we’re going to eat already. Me and my husband sat ourselves down at the bar area and were looking at the menu on what we wanted and the store owner was being very rude and disrespectful rushing us to order. My husband asked the store owner why were there tea so expensive because it said $4 and the guy responded very rudely and said “it’s 2025 what do you expect.” Mind you my husband loves sweet tea he wasn’t complaining or anything he would have ordered it anyway he just had a question and wanted it answered, there really wasn’t no need to get smart and be rude about it. And then also the store owner continue to respond to my husband and say “I’m not a racist.” Mind you neither myself or my husband said anything about racism to the guy. He clearly was already describing himself as an rude racist because we were colored and he already from the jump was very disrespectful, had a nasty tone, and very very rude. The store owner was also upset that my husband needed to use their restroom and made comments like “I don’t like when people come in here using the restroom but not buying anything.” Mind you if the store owner and the other employees would have treated us respectfully my husband and myself would have ordered something off the menu but we decided not to because l don’t think it’s okay to spend money at an establishment that’s very distasteful from the moment we walk in. My husband and myself was very uncomfortable, we felt unwelcome and will never come to this establishment ever again. 0/10 DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!!!!

Also on a side note Wendy’s Breakfast Is Very Good, Reasonable Price, And Good Customer...

Don't let first impressions turn you off. When you come through the door from the parking lot behind the building, you'll probably have some misgivings about your choice for dining in what looks like an average neighborhood bar. But walk past the bar stools with the "regulars" planted on them & go towards the front entry way area where you'll find the dining room tucked off to the side.

The dining room area has recently been upgraded with new carpeting which is a nice improvement. The food here is always the same...good, basic, homestyle cooking. Casual dining at it's best... nothing fancy but always tasty. We highly recommend the pork chops...or the meatloaf...or the grilled chicken... or...or...or...! And don't forget the hamburgers (no square patties here!) with REAL potato french fries (think "Happy Days"...very "retro"!) or the hotdogs with chili & slaw for a really quick bit of lunch.

We enjoy going here for the food, the convenience, & the quiet...no screaming kids, no large party crowds at the next table, & (best of all) no obnoxiously loud music, so you can actually have a conversation over dinner. As Gallagher used to say..."Totally new concept!" Or, if you prefer, you can just watch TV while you eat...just like home but you don't have to put a napkin in your lap, keep your elbows off the table, or wash any dishes...