Smokey's on Pearl Street — Restaurant in Ellensburg

**EDITED - Went there last night, Nov. 13th, 2023. Will be the last time. Ordered the Gumbo and the Meaty Mac & Cheese. Gumbo was 14 dollars and the Mac was 18 dollars. 32 dollars for 2 cereal bowl sized portions where both were only filled 3/4s the way up. The "gumbo" was nothing more than a thin soup with some veggies and some small chunks of what appeared to be left over bacon fat. Bowl cost 14 dollars. 14 dollars for a bowl of soup!! Was certainly NOT a thick and hearty gumbo. Was certainly not the gumbo we had our first time there. The Meaty Mac & Cheese was very tasty but again, VERY expensive for a partial bowl of mac and cheese. Cost 18 dollars!! Like before, we had to get our own silverware, napkins, and water, then seat ourselves. And they ask for a tip as you place your order, PRIOR to receiving any "service" or taking a single bit of their food. Sleazy way of doing it. What's the tip for? The only service we received was them bringing us our terribly overpriced, under portioned soup and mac. By the time it was all totaled, it was 40 dollars for a bowl of mac and a bowl of soup. Not worth it. Wont go back.

9/23/2023. The place just opened last week I believe and last night was our first visit. First impressions... A little on the spendy side for such small portions I felt. Ordered the food and had to get our own silverware, napkins and water then had to seat ourselves. Its a pre-pay set up at the main counter when you order, where they have the nerve to ask you for a tip before even having tasted their food or receiving any service. As if its expected instead of having to be earned. VERY OFF PUTTING in my opinion!! Because of this I gave no tip at all. Not even at the table. Sorry, but to assume im gonna give you (quite a bit), more money just because, on top of an already pricey menu is not a good business practice in my opinion. Especially after having to get our own water, utensils, and having to seat ourselves. At this point im thinking, "tip for what, taking my order?"

Food arrived quickly enough but most was on the luke warm to cold side. The centers of our deep fried Okra were cold, some of the larger chunks were on the verge of being VERY cold, barely thawed as it were. The BBQ chicken that made up the filling of our sandwich was delicious, but only just warm. The sandwich itself tasted great but was lacking. It was the chicken and the bun. Thats it. No tomato, no lettuce, nada. The bun itself was cold. As if it had just been removed from the plastic bag. Wasnt toasted or even warmed up. Our very small portion of red beans and rice was delicious but again, just warm. The gumbo I thought was the best part of the meal. Thick and hearty, and it was hot!! Tasted great!! However, 14 dollars (if i remember correctly), for an undersized bowl of it is SUPER pricey in my opinion.

Overall, I'd say we'll be back because im sure this place can be very good once some of the processes have been refined and the bugs...

Visiting from out of state and my friend suggested Smokey's on Pearl Street for his birthday dinner. Upon entering the restaurant, the ambience felt a bit "off" but couldn't pinpoint what exactly caused the feeling.

We were greeted kindly and promptly and chose a table near the kitchen. After perusing the menu (which was difficult to read due to the overhead glare from the lights) we placed our orders and returned to our seats.

Our meals were delivered within 5 minutes. My friend ordered the 2 meat special with dirty rice and green beans with bacon. I ordered baby back ribs, mac & cheese and cornbread.

My friend's meal was "tepid at best" (his words). While the temperature wasn't satisfactory, he said the food was ok and the meat literally dropped off the bone.

My baby back ribs were hot, extremely tasty, and also falling off the bone. Mac & cheese was hot and heavenly and I could have ordered 3 more bowls it was that flavorful!! The cornbread was cold...maybe cause I focused on the meat and mac&cheese first?

As we dined and looked around the restaurant, I realized what felt "off" about the ambience. The lights were turned on full wattage...not low and moody as you'd expect from a BBQ place. That's why the menu was difficult to read. Also, the place was just about empty...not what you'd expect for a Friday night in a college town. Normally when sitting near a kitchen you hear the hustle and bustle of a busy kitchen. Having full sight into the kitchen, there was one cook. And no wafting of delicious BBQ smells that usually emanate from a BBQ kitchen.

My friend told me the restaurant was relatively new and probably still working out the kinks. Sincerely hope they get the kinks worked out, cause with reduced lighting, correct food temps and maybe a more cohesive restaurant layout, Smokey's would be a...

Well there’s a new place in town,so I thought I’d stop by and check it out it’s called “Smokies”… I got some brisket, potato salad and some cornbread. Hey, I know they’ve only been open a few weeks, So I’m gonna give them some a little space on the review. In the end, It wasn’t the quality or quantity that I expected for the money. But then it’s been a while since I’ve been out to a restaurant, so prices I’m sure have gone up. I ordered the half pound brisket which came with two sides and totaled about $28…I guess I had different expectations when I ordered cornbread as one of the sides. I envisioned a big square of homestyle baked cornbread, not a heavy, crumbly, muffin. The main dish was the 3 slices of beef brisket, if the secret is in the rub or the sauce, for the brisket, I could honestly find neither one. The potato salad was OK but nothing I couldn’t pick up at a deli. So the brisket was OK but dry… Again maybe I expected something drowning in sauce. Maybe it was excluded when I reminded them that I had ordered it to go when they brought it out on a plate. Perhaps in transferring the meal to a suitable to-go container, the sauce part got lost. Anyway it’s a nice place and I’m sure That there are other items on the menu that I might enjoy to treat myself to occasionally…so hey, I’m sure I could’ve done worse… I hope they continue to progress and become a welcome addition to Ellensburg. Maybe your experience will be a very positive one… I think I’ll give the ribs a...