Werner's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que — Restaurant in Octa

I stopped in for a quick and convenient lunch as the hotel I stayed in is right next door. Werner's was all I could smell in the hotel parking lot, and I could tell I had to give it a try.

I got there right after they opened and there was already a good crowd inside, which only grew larger while I was there. I could tell there were a number of locals, which is always a good sign. The young lady working the counter was pleasant, friendly, and efficient with the way she greeted and served all the guests, and the table servers followed suit as well - friendly and professional all around.

I got a cup of ham & bean soup, a beef brisket sandwich, a side of fries and a sweet tea.

The sweet tea was sweeter than I expected it to be, though I'm from New England so maybe my expectations on sweet tea are out of line with reality - we don't have it back home. It was sweeter than what I had while traveling in Mississippi though! The temperature was a little unpleasant, it wasn't hot and certainly wasn't cold - but maybe that's another regional thing I'm not used to (and, to be fair, I skipped the ice, so maybe my experience with the tea was fully my fault). Overall, it was good. I'd go for ice next time.

The soup was rich and hearty, with lots of flavor and plenty of chunks of ham. A cup or bowl of this on a cold winter's day would really hit the spot. The soup came with a cornbread muffin, which was good, though pretty standard. It was moist, sweet, and baked well.

The fries were nothing special, but they weren't bad. They were crisp on the outside, tender and fluffy on the inside, and there wasn't a soggy fry in sight. The serving size was a few fries lighter than I expected. They were minimally-salted, which I appreciate - sometimes places over salt their fries and you're stuck with what you get. Not these ones.

The star of the show was the chopped brisket sandwich. It was presented simply - a generous serving of meat on what looked like a potato roll (I'm guessing it was a potato roll only because of its yellow color). No sauce, no dressings, no other ingredients, which told me the chefs weren't trying to hide anything. The brisket was wildly tender, juicy, and loaded with flavor. This would have been a $16 sandwich at a good BBQ joint back home, for $10 it's a steal. The folks that cooked this brisket up at Werner's know what they're doing and they let the meat speak for itself.

If I have time before I head back home, I'll likely stop back in...

I had about 15 restaurants to choose from for this road trip, and I chose to drive 8.5 hours to Werner's Smokehouse on route to my destination.

Was it up to my expectations? I have mixed feelings.

First off, the staff are extremely helpful and friendly, from the 2 young ladies manning the front, to the employees who bring your food order and clear your empty baskets.

Considering how long it took to get here, I wanted to try a lot of different things:

#1 Smoked Chicken Wings: Veeeeery good. Recommend for a starter.

#2 French Fries. Nothing special. Wouldn't order it again. I had French fries from a BBQ spot in Dallas, and they were delicious. Was hoping for the same here.

#3 Fried Pickles! HIGHLY recommend. Perfect balance of salty and sour.

#4 Brisket Burger. Solid. Wasn't great. But solid. Portion was on the smaller side, considering the price.

#5 Pulled Pork Sandwich I've had pulled pork from many different merchants in many different states, but this was absolutely the worst. Super dry. No flavor. Really want my money back on this one.

#6 Smokehouse Wrap Portion was phenomenal. It was a bit bland in the first half of the wrap, but towards the 2nd half, there was a lot more flavor. I think this had to do with how the sauce was dispersed. If the flavor was consistent with each bite, I would order it again.

#7 Smokehouse Sundae. Wow. Wow. Did I say wow? Delicious. Fingerlicking good. I should have ordered more of this one instead of the pulled pork and fries.

#8 Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. One word. Perfect. Couldn't make it better.

If I had to return again, now I know what I would order, and I wouldn't be wasting money nor tummy space.

Remember everyone. Order the fried pickles. Smoked wings. And Smokehouse Sundae with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy.

I've added pictures of the menu as well.

And...

Positive: The ladies at the front were super friendly & welcoming (both blondes one short with short hair ,the other really tall & skinny). The food was reasonably priced & came out in a timely manner. Our bartender was attentive; we enjoyed the baked beans, fried shrimp, & baked potato.

Negative: The dish guy came up to stock bowls the bowls were lined up his entire bare arm. The manager came from the back once, kept his head down & didn't interact with the guests at all. He had on this plastic chin covering that served no purpose, if we're skeptical about any mask I know for certain his was a joke. I was so disappointed when I got my mouth watering ribs because they were so TOUGH but the sauce was good. The cooks all wore their masks on their chins which I get it it's hot back there but scratching your face and beard with your black gloves & continuing to work is unacceptable! Once I witnessed that I stopped myself from glancing through the window because at that point I had already placed my order. After eating we then witnessed a server or the expo grab bread with her naked hand & place it on someone's plate before covid that wouldn't be a good look!

I was a server for 10 years guests always like to see that extra mile taken to ensure cleanliness.For example when you wash your hands in the back finish drying them up front so people can witness the action. I really don't think anyone washed their hands but I'm hoping I'm completely wrong. Always be mindful of what you're doing & how it's perceived, you always want the guests to return.

Edit- I didn't send my food back to the kitchen because it was late & I know how eager cooks are to leave work. I've heard/seen the sad things that happens to food when someone doesn't...