Smokey Bones Lansing — Restaurant in Lansing Charter Township

i am looking to speak with the owners, not the store managers, after this review. I have been going to Smokey Bones since it opened in Eastwood Towne Center. I continue to notice a decline in the quality of food over the years, yet the prices continue to go up. Today I ordered ribs that indicated "Signature Full Rack Original". There is no other description of the ribs. It's the most expensive rack on the menu. After years of ordering ribs from SB, and after making sure I was NOT ordering the small baby back rack, I expected a full sized, full rack of ribs because I clearly did not order the baby back Danish ribs. Nowhere in the description for the signature full rack original ribs does it indicate they are baby back ribs. Nowhere. Yet, when I get home and open the container, the ribs inside were barely big enough to call baby back ribs. I was later advised that all of the ribs at SB are baby back. If you are not aware of this and you order the signature full rack, please know that you are ordering a $10.00 more expensive version of the baby back ribs. Then, the ribs were dry and hard to the point that I could not eat one end of the rack. I have not even tried the opposite end of the rack as I was too upset and disappointed to try it. So much has changed since COVID. But I can't excuse some of the behaviors I am seeing from some of my favorite restaurants, to include Smokey Bones. Advertisement for the ribs is misleading. It should clearly indicated that the signatuer full rack of ribs are simply baby back ribs that for no legitimate reasaon, cost $10.00 more. Shame on the owners for allowing this to fly. I have to wonder if this is intential. If so, double shame on the owners. I will certainly let friends, family, and co-workers know about this. In the meantime Smokey Bones, you need to clean this up because at the end of the day it is deceitful as your customers are uninformed about what they are really ordering. I haven't ordered from SB in over a year due to a bad experience. Every time I come back, the restauraunt has worsened in some way. Customers deserve to know that you only sale baby back ribs now. Put that fact in your menu. This is what you have in your menu: "Award-winning ribs, seasoned and hand-rubbed, house-smoked for 4 hours and flavored with a sweet and smokey BBQ sauce. Served with 2 sides and garlic bread". How is anyone supposed to know they are the small baby back bones? Shame on you! You have certainly lost my business and I am sure other people will...

Smokey Bones in Lansing, Michigan—a place where the grill is hot, but the food is like it’s been reheated more times than a rerun of “Friends.” 🍔🔥

🌟 (1 out of 5 stars)

Introduction: I recently visited Smokey Bones, and let me tell you, it’s like they took the concept of “fire-grilled” and turned it into “fire-forgotten.” The ambiance was ok The Menu: The menu promised bold flavors, but it felt like the chef had a secret stash of pre-made dishes hidden behind the grill. You know, the kind of dishes that have been sitting there since the Bush administration. I half-expected my plate to come with a side of nostalgia and a sprinkle of Y2K panic.

The Grill Platter: Now, let’s talk about the infamous grill platter. It’s like they assembled it using IKEA instructions written in hieroglyphics. First, there’s the chicken—dry as a Tinder conversation after the first “Hey.” Then, the ribs—so cold, I thought they were auditioning for a role in the next “Frozen” movie. And the steak? Well, it was medium-rare in the sense that it was rare to find any flavor.

The Price Tag: Listen, Smokey Bones, I appreciate your commitment to charging premium prices, but my wallet is still recovering from the trauma. I paid so much that I half-expected the waiter to hand me a certificate that said, “Congratulations! You’ve just financed our next barbecue pit.”

Service: The service was friendly, though. Our waiter had the enthusiasm of a motivational speaker at a 6 AM seminar. He kept saying, “You’re doing great, champ!” as he refilled my water glass for the tenth time. Thanks. I needed that pep talk to survive the culinary adventure.

Conclusion: In summary, Smokey Bones is like that old college buddy who shows up unannounced, raids your fridge, and leaves you with a hefty bill. But hey, if you’re into mystery meats and wallet workouts, this place is for you. Just remember to bring your own defibrillator—you’ll need it after the grill platter.

Disclaimer: No actual grills were harmed in the making of this review. But my taste buds? Well, they’re still in therapy.

P.S. If you find a lost rib on the floor, it’s probably mine. Please return it to the nearest fire...

I have been to this restaurant chain on several occasions and I usually order there chicken wings which are amazing. But this time I wanted to try something different so I decided to order there beef brisket and baby when I say I wasn't disappointed I wasn't. It was some of the best beef brisket I have had in a long time. It was so tender, juicy, and succulent it would put your granny's home cooking to shame. It was very lean and not much fat on it which is great too much fat is a no for me and there wasn't a bunch of skin on it. This brisket was sheer perfection and I would recommend it to anyone. I did request the glaze that goes on there ribs for my brisket which made it all the better. I wasn't a big fan of the sauces that they provided at the table but that glaze was magnificent on the brisket. I'm not a big fan of pork ribs but when my parents/brothers ribs came out I had to stick my fork in it. My fork barely touched the rib before it was falling off the bone literally and when I took a bite it melted in my mouth sending all my taste buds into over drive. I also tried the corn bread which was good but nothing to write home about so I thought but when you put that pecan butter on it....man that's a game changer. The corn bread was very soft on the outside edges and soft and moist throughout. Nobody enjoys dry brick hard corn bread and this was definitely not that. I also had a salad that was fresh, crisp, and tasty. There was not one wilted piece of lettuce, my tomatoes were perfectly ripe, cucumbers were nice and crunchy, and my croutons were crispy. I would have liked to try there beef ribs so I could have compared the pork ribs to them but they are not budget friendly. Beef ribs are much harder to cook as well but they do offer them on the menu which is very nice. All in all we were all more than full and satisfied with the food and I would recommend this restaurant and it definitely gets my stamp of approval. Hats off...