The Smoky Mug — Restaurant in Richmond

The new Smokey Mug location in Brookland Park has a very distinct vibe. The décor leans “neo-western,” with clean lines and trendy touches that stand out against the character of the surrounding neighborhood. It feels like the space is designed more to attract people from outside the area—especially white millennials looking for a stylish, “up-and-coming” hangout—than to cater to long-time residents of this historically African-American community. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does create a noticeable contrast. Now, onto the food. We ordered the brisket nachos, and flavor-wise they were excellent. The meat was well-seasoned, the toppings balanced, and everything came together into a delicious bite. If I were rating flavor alone, they’d be a solid 8/10. Unfortunately, they were served cold—some ingredients were fridge-cold, others lukewarm at best—which was off-putting. Because of that, I’d rate them closer to a 6.5/10 overall. That said, I believe if you catch the kitchen at a slower, less chaotic time, these nachos could easily be a 9/10. The biggest issue, however, was the service. The space is confusing when you first enter. There’s no signage, no host, and the setup is nontraditional. We ended up at the bar simply because it felt familiar. The bartenders were visibly overwhelmed and out of sync, rushing around with little organization. The bar itself was messy, and both staff members openly complained to each other (and within earshot of guests) about being unprepared and stuck working shifts they hadn’t expected. Their interactions with us felt strained, more like they were surviving the night than providing hospitality. The food-ordering system was even more confusing. When I asked for a menu, I was told I couldn’t order food at the bar and had to walk around to the “food side,” order in line like at a fast-casual spot, and then the food would still be delivered to me at the bar and added to the same tab. This felt unnecessarily complicated and made the dining experience frustrating. If the system is unified, bartenders should be able to place food orders for seated guests. Basic service touchpoints were also missing—no water refills, no napkins offered, no check-ins. Overall, the team looked more panicked than prepared. As for drinks, we tried most of the signature cocktails. The Old Fashioned was excellent and easily the highlight. On the flip side, the Ranch Water was almost undrinkable, though that may come down to preference. Overall, I would give this new Smokey Mug location a 6/10. The food has potential, the drinks list has some gems, and the space itself is inviting. But the service was disorganized, the food-ordering system didn’t make sense, and execution needs work. I don’t think the owners are seasoned restaurateurs yet, but they’re clearly learning and building as they go. I plan to return in a few months to see how things develop—because with some improvements, this spot could become a great addition to...

I'm stuffed like a buffalo (BTW I have never seen a buffalo, stuffed like I feel)! I must say on repeat, I'm not a fan of this type of food, but when my greedy a$$ is invited out (chauffeur services included) It's hard to say no. The Smoky has glowing reviews, but I don't trust everyone's palate. I shared The Smoky Mug's IG page with the foodie bloggers @we_hungryaf and they took the bait, err I mean they were intrigued. We finally were able to make it to the Smoky for late lunch/early dinner, and it didn't disappoint. The vibe is so chill, and cozy, and the aroma, Jeez Louise. Also, who doesn't love being greeted with compliments. Thanks Marcela you're great for my ego, lol, but I also love great eats. Marcela greeted us immediately with such warmth and kindness, that we felt at home (other businesses should follow her lead). We couldn't decide what we wanted to eat, so we got a bit of everything in the family platter. Our platter had a hefty portion of everything. It had the best brisket I have had in a minute, that I can remember (anything prior must not have been too memorable). It was so friggin tender and flavorful, that it didn't require any of the provided sauces. The NC style vinaigrette, espresso bald and sweet, mustard spicy and tangy sauces were amazing as well, but the food held it's own. Matter of fact, none of the food required any condiments. The pulled pork, hatch Chile cheddar sausages, hatched green Chile Mac n cheese, Texano slaw, and smoked squash spaghetti were seasoned perfectly. I love it when I go out to eat and don't have to doctor my food in order to make it edible. Having to season your food when you go out to eat is too much like cooking, at that point you just need to stay home and cook yourself. I'm so glad we chose The Smoky Mug for our eating adventure, it was so well worth it!! Don't take my word for it go for yourself, let me know what you think? Tell Marcella (sp) that I sent you! She's such...

TLDR: I ordered takeout that was missing items. I contacted the business by phone and email, and it's been two days without a response.

As a first time customer, I was really excited to try this place for breakfast tacos. I paid a visit as soon as they opened on a Sunday, and was impressed with the beautiful and inviting space that was recently renovated.

The staff at the counter were friendly, but weren't familiar with the menu (they weren't sure if there were 1 or 2 breakfast tacos per order), but no biggie. I placed an order for 2 bacon, egg & cheese tacos and 1 bean burrito. It was a short 10-minute wait since it wasn't busy. I thanked the staff and waved goodbye.

When I got home, there were only two items - it's on me for not double-checking the bag before I left. Although I ordered two breakfast tacos, I received only one, without the bacon. The picture I’ve posted shows the contents and the ticket, which lists two tacos and one burrito.

The burrito that I ordered for my wife was cold to the touch and cold inside! She had to reheat it in a toaster oven for 10 minutes, and an additional 1 minute in the microwave. I opened my breakfast taco, and while it was missing bacon, it was warm to the touch, and the contents were steamy. I guess breakfast tacos are made to order, but maybe the burritos are pre-made and reheated???

I realize that mistakes happen, and perhaps the staff was either shorthanded or having a rough start to the morning with the rainy weather. I tried calling the restaurant twice, but there's a pre-recorded message prompting folks to email the business - I emailed a friendly note and patiently described the problem with the order. Two days have passed, and there is no reply.

I’d be up for giving this place a second chance - the food tastes good, the space is nice, but the service and lack of a response...