Smoke Shack
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I don't know about you, but I LOVE doing a late lunch like 2pm+ times where there's less people and I can eat more. I don't end up eating breakfast and end up scarfing down a boat load of food 😂 🥩Smoke Shack is the go to spot if you love barbecue and are in Milwaukee. Of course, don't go if you're from the south because you'll be disappointed 😂 I've been to North Carolina, Dallas, Austin, South Carolina and nothing is the same BUTTT here you get a nice combo plate for $28.5 (3.5 extra on top of $25 if you sub ribs). We got quarter rack ribs, sausage, & brisket. It comes with two sides so we picked Mac and cheese and smoked mushrooms two of the waiters favorite 😋 📣Biggest highlight was the brisket and sides. Briskets literally melts in your mouth with the right taste, smokey, and fat levels I think the racks were a bit bone dry . Maybe it wasn't as fatty or was left in the smoker for too long. Regardless still tasted good They have a huge range of barbecue sauce, the best was their house bbq sauce. A bit on the sweeter side. There's another vinegary one which I loved Don't forget they have drinks and stuff as well. more on Instagram @midwestmunching
Bessy TamBessy Tam
00
We are local Third Ward residents and love to support all the spots in our neighborhood. Having had a good brunch previously, we were looking forward to a great repeat experience. Unfortunately it did not impress today. We, along with at least 2 other groups, waited over 10 minutes for a host to arrive at the stand to seat us despite countless other staff members taking note of the line out the door. We were seated at a nice patio table but proceed to wait 15 minutes before being acknowledged by a single server, despite a few moving about the dining area. 30 minutes after our arrival, we were at last greeted by our server and served waters. We both ordered the pulled pork eggs Benedict and Bloody Mary. The bloody was quite great. Another 30 minutes passed waiting for our meal to only be served the most terrible looking (and tasting) hollandaise sauce. See pic in post but completely curdled, alongside two very hard poached egg. We kindly asked the server if this was in fact hollandaise, which was confirmed after he consulted the menu. We pointed out that it didn’t quite look like hollandaise and he simply said “that’s how it’s been looking all day, that’s how it usually looks.” Being one not to make a situation out of the matter and realizing it was not the server’s fault, we let it go and just pulled aside the eggs and curdled sauce and just had the pork (which was ok). Of note all this occurred with restaurant at less than 50% capacity. Sad to see this place we enjoyed previously, not deliver. We will not be back. Bad service, slow and no kitchen should be happy putting this level of food quality out to their patrons. Moreover, the ambivalence to quality is disheartening. Better choices in the Third Ward to be sure.
Will BrewerWill Brewer
00
The food was tasty but I was treated very bad. The bartender who took my order was very pleasant, attentive, and helpful. But every other employee I had contact with(at least 3) exhibited very poor examples of how a customer should be treated. I came in and placed my order because I was having issues with the online ordering process. After ordering I went back to my vehicle to get my phone in order to take pictures for my review. As I was taking pictures I was asked at least three times "can I help you?" Which on the surface seems like great customer service. Each time I responded that the bartender had already taken my order. I'm pretty sure the last person that asked me went in the back and told the manager that there was an issue. I could tell this by the way I was approached. I was asked again if I needed help and I told this person I'd already been helped. She then proceeded to ask me why I was taking pictures of the establishment. I told her I was going to post a review. She then said that people need to ask for the manager and tell them that they'd like to do a review. I told her that would diminish the chance of getting the standard service for the establishment. I wanted an unaltered level of service, normal if you will. She then asked me for my business card??? WHAT?! I need a business card to post a review on Google? I pay attention to detail and the obvious fact here is that I was the only person that "looked like me" inside of the establishment. The only reason for two stars instead of one is the food was tasty. Otherwise I'd recommend POC to stay away at all costs.
Al GAl G
30
Office wanted bbq today... I cringe when thinking of upper Midwest bbq, but they agreed on Smoke Shack. Not horrible. The food is OK and way better than dumps like Saz, but something is missing from being like Central TX bbq. Maybe it's the wood, but the brisket is lacking almost everything that a nirvana inducing TX brisket will have. Also, it's sliced with grain and super thick nuggets vs. against and is a stringy eat vs. a hearty TX slice that holds up as a slice. Chili is a pretty solid flavor but the bean controversy ;) Sausage is really like elevated hotdogs, honestly. Nothing to it. Tastes like a hotdog from a smoker. For the upper Midwest, this place is pretty good. Hey... at least they have a real wood smoker on site. Serves its purpose of giving me some smoked meat when I am not back in TX, but it's a far cry from about 90% of the BBQ pit joints all across Texas. 11/23 Update Today, literally nothing was good. The Brisket had no flavor and was ridiculously dry (at least it was sliced correctly today). Pulled chicken was so dry that the 2 people that got it just tossed it. The pulled pork was, however, the opposite... it was literally more sauce than pork, and to call it TX Pork? I spend a great deal of time in TX and I cannot recall the last time I saw pork with any noticeable sauce and many places in TX will only lightly sauce on the prep board if you ask for it. TX lets the meat and smoke take the lead. Today was a big miss.
Matt BoyceMatt Boyce
30
Walking in it was very slow, dark, and quiet. We got seated at a table shortly after walking in. Service was meh, unfortunately we ordered appetizers. There were no egg rolls, which sounded great. So we went with the "Happy Hour" cheese curds and pickles. That was, in my opinion, the biggest Flop. They seemed like they were all fried together like one big ball. Trying to eat them was not great. The batter had potential but absorbed so much oil, the Sauce that came with it was good. We had the Nachos, which was good, no complaints there. We ordered our food, which took about 20 minutes to get brought out to the table. I never got my beans, so I asked to take them to go. Brisket was okay, cut on the thicker side, not really much of a smoke ring. The sausage was good, nothing too fancy. The Rib tips were definitely the best of them all. The dry seasoning on top and the smoke favor was definitely great, plus your favorite sauce. Downfall was no regular french fries and no burnt ends except on weekends. We had to ask for utensils and napkins. Made it was all a flule because it was slow but definitely wasn't a fan.
Omar AOmar A
00
We stopped in here before a Foo Fighter show. My family absolutely loves BBQ. From the ambiance, to the service, to the drinks, to the food. They knocked it all out of the park. When we walked in the hostess was super friendly and got us sat quickly after having to help clean the table for our server. Our server was also super friendly and helpful. The bourbon list at this place is also legit! I went with a local beer and my wife went with the old fashioned on the menu. Both were great. Her old fashioned was a little sweet for me but it literally says brown butter washed bourbon and smoke orange juice so I knew what she was getting into. She loved it. She ordered the brisket sandwich with mac and cheese and I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with potato salad. The sandwiches were good. They have a great selection of sauces on the table as well. But what blew us both away was our sides! And my son agreed! He’s a Mac and cheese aficionado! It was probably the best mac and cheese and potato salad we have ever had. AND I COMPLETELY FORGOT TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE FOOD! We will be back!
E ReckerE Recker
20
Nearby Attractions Of Smoke Shack
Harley-Davidson Museum
Milwaukee Art Museum
Henry Maier Festival Park by Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.
Discovery World
The Pfister Hotel
Escape the Room Milwaukee
The Riverside Theater
The Pabst Theater
Betty Brinn Children's Museum
Cathedral Square Park

Harley-Davidson Museum
4.7
(4.6K)Click for details

Milwaukee Art Museum
4.8
(3.3K)Click for details

Henry Maier Festival Park by Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.
4.6
(2.2K)Click for details

Discovery World
4.6
(1.9K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Smoke Shack
Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse Milwaukee
Café Benelux
SafeHouse
Harbor House
Sweet Diner
St. Paul Fish Company | Historic Third Ward, Milwaukee
The Wicked Hop
Swingin' Door Exchange
Screaming Tuna Milwaukee
O'Lydia's Bar and Grill

Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse Milwaukee
4.8
(3.7K)Click for details

Café Benelux
4.5
(2.1K)Click for details

SafeHouse
4.3
(1.7K)Click for details

Harbor House
4.6
(1.4K)Click for details
Basic Info
Address
332 N Milwaukee St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Map
Phone
(414) 431-1119
Call
Website
smoke-shack.com
Visit
Reviews
Overview
4.3
(1K reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Cozy spot serving slow-smoked barbecue meats & Southern-style sides in rustic environs.
attractions: Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, Henry Maier Festival Park by Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., Discovery World, The Pfister Hotel, Escape the Room Milwaukee, The Riverside Theater, The Pabst Theater, Betty Brinn Children's Museum, Cathedral Square Park, restaurants: Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse Milwaukee, Café Benelux, SafeHouse, Harbor House, Sweet Diner, St. Paul Fish Company | Historic Third Ward, Milwaukee, The Wicked Hop, Swingin' Door Exchange, Screaming Tuna Milwaukee, O'Lydia's Bar and Grill
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