Smoke — Restaurant in Lonsdale

So I tried Smoke for the first time last night since moving to Elko New Market a year ago. I have a fairly (or sometimes unfairly) large background in BBQ so I am at the point that I am uber picky about my smoked meats and the quality as well as the sauces. Here is my observations from my experience.

The meat was smoked excellently. I ordered ribs and brisket (brisket is - quite frankly - one of the tests of a pitmaster's skills - it is VERY easy to mess it up). Both the ribs and the brisket had a near perfect smoke bark to them all around. The brisket was moist and very tender - something that can only be achieved with talent, experience and proper attention paid to the meat and the process. The smoke ring was a perfect even width around the entirety of the brisket. The flavor of the smoke was clean (not gas, fuel or anything like that which can be easy to taste). The ribs had a perfect bark (the bark is like a crust for people who aren't bbq fiends) while maintaining tenderness and moisture inside. They were very good.

I tried both the regular and spicy house made sauce. If you are familiar with Arthur Bryant's or Gate's in Kansas City, it was a very similar style - PERFECT for pork and almost perfect for beef (keep in mind, I said I am difficult, lol). The mild was Minnesota mild and the spicy was what I would call Minnesota Spicy - it would likely be my go to for a milder bbq. A suggestion I would make would be to consider a fiery version utilizing smoked habanero and a garlic undertone for people who really wanted to crank things up with a slow burn.

All in all I can honestly say this is one of the best BBQ Restaurants in Minnesota and it is at the level that it could DEFINITLY hold it's own in a place like Kansas City against some of the biggest and most famous BBQ Joints. If you aren't from the small community of Lonsdale, I would say that it is VERY worth the drive from the Cities or even the Northern or Eastern parts of the cities - it is THAT good.

TLDR version - It's good....

Since I frequent this establishment, I have a bit to say about it. The owner and staff are quite remarkable. Knowledgeable about the foods and drinks they offer, patient with the first-time or fiftieth-time customer, and genuinely hopeful that you have a positive experience. Obviously, everyone knows how great Kenny is as a bartender and server, but Drew, Brian and BJ certainly deserve a shout-out for being consistent and on-the-mark in the kitchen.

The drink selection is second to none in this town - not including the liquor store - and the variety is guaranteed to provide whatever a person may be seeking. From smoothie sours to specialty stouts to sea salt & lime lager to THC drinks and hard liquor - they have it all.

The menu and food… I have a list of “favorites” but I have to say that the pop-ups and specials are worth coming in weekly just to try. My personal staples include the smoked wings, tatchos w/ brisket (spicy bourbon honey), duck wontons, and ANY of the smash burgers (seriously, the specialty smash burgers [s’Mac or Umami] are tremendous!). I have family that travels a couple hours just for the pastrami sandwich, my daughter loves the pulled pork sandwich, my son orders the Gouda Mac with buffalo pork or chicken, excitedly, and my wife cannot say enough good about the soups and salads. I’ve heard people say that the burnt ends are the best they’ve ever had and the Shields Lake cheesecakes are SO GOOD! Which brings me to the next point… Smoke does collabs, pop-ups, and take-overs with local breweries, restaurants, food trucks, etc. and the owner enthusiastically promotes the services of other local businesses (even if they are direct competition).

There are many other things I’m sure I could or should mention, but the 5-star review should support the unmentioned. Come to Smoke in Lonsdale and strike up a conversation, I typically try and cover the tab for newcomers...

Stopped in to see what all the hype was about and was met with a small but authentic environment( love the patio!). True BBQ smells, Texas vibe visuals and a bar showcasing merch and delicious craft beers. Impressed with the fairly large selection of bottle and can beers as well. After scanning the menu, placing our medium sized family order, we patiently waited the 15 minute window they predicted. This gave us a chance to try a beer and soak up the vibe! We watched delicious food delivered to tables and had no shame in awkwardly eyeing their food to see what our future awaited. Immediately regretting not ordering the cornbread, ribs and tatchos. Just means we have to come back, no big deal. Elko isn’t that far! 15 minutes is up and our food is ready! 2 bags of goodness ready for us to enjoy at home was the mission, and we had just completed it with smells of smoked meat and new flavors of bbq sauces! Only to be totally bummed when our side of bacon Mac and cheese was nowhere to be found. After risking my enviously long stares at peoples plates and thanking the stars above that I ordered the same beautiful side dish they did! So, I HAD to call. Someone answered and I explained what happened, they expressed their apologies (understanding it was our only side for this pick 2 entree side) and offered to have ready for pick up when I arrived. Unfortunately that wasn’t possible. I’m sure he heard the crackle in my voice and offered a $ credit on our next order. I was pleasantly impressed with how well he handled the situation and appreciated his several apologies. Things happen, it wasn’t intentional and they made it right! We will be back! Our food...