Phoenix Smokehouse — Restaurant in Rindge

I came in at the end of the day, about 30mins before close. The food in this area in a general sense isnt anything to rave about so i didnt set my hopes too high to be honest, but im also originally from southern MA near RI, so hard to compete.

Went with the 3 meats - Brisket, Kielbasa, 1/2 a chicken. Brisket was pretty good, a bit overdone in my opinion, had a bit of a smokey flavor, nothing strong or over powering, i enjoyed it over all, kielbasa was fine, nothing really to mention good or bad about it, maybe a tad under done? but i have a weird sensitivity to kielbasa. The half chicken though, at first seemed great, skin looked good had a strong char smell to it, thats about it, wasnt dry so that was good, the charr taste carried into the meat which was a bit offputting for me, other than that any seasoning that was done to it didnt translate into the chicken itself, came apart very easy though.

Got a side of mac and chees - which was just ziti and a middle of the road cheese sauce, not sure if its made in house or not, personally dont think so. was enough of a portion id say? maybe a tad small? satisfied enough with it given the way americans typically eat. also got corn bread which is northern style, so its moist and cake like, not dry and bread like as southerns say they prefer, was alright, no corn in it, which is probably the way more people like it than dont. piece was a bit small if you asked me, but i felt it was enough all things considered.

in house lemonade tasted good, seemed like its made there.

in house BBQ sauce was a bit thin if you ask me, seemed like mostly ketchup, red pepper flake? dash of hot sauce and something else? definitely had to stirr it around to get the flavor of it.

service was quick, i was in and out in maybe 5 minutes or so, place was clean, the little counter bar they have there seemed cool, theming is well enough. the people around here will probably enjoy it, that said it is probably top of the price scale for this area given the places i have eaten at around here.

i think this place will do well, still very new, they need to get a website, and i confirmed when there that the Toast online...

I’ve always dreamed of a bbq place in this corner of the world and it’s finally arrived. I take my bbq quite seriously and appreciate all variations. I even plan my vacations based on the bbq available. So I was beyond excited to stumble upon it while picking up my Sandwich Master order.

That said, it gives me no pleasure to say what I tried was a good effort but not great. And I want nothing more than to sing its praises - I truly do.

Ordered the 3 meat platter to go: ribs, brisket, pulled pork, beans, and potato salad. House sauce. 10 minutes in and out.

Ribs had the silver skin still on. Flavor was mild with some smokiness.

Brisket was enjoyable.

Pulled pork was curiously a large chunk that I had to pull myself. Not an issue. Similar to ribs with mild taste.

Borracho beans had potential but the sauce felt thin. Flavor was weak.

Potato salad was disappointingly bland.

Cornbread was sweet and moist.

House sauce is pleasant and sweet.

Overall, it feels that the meats need the sauce to make it palatable, but even then nothing was memorable. The quality of the meat and ingredients felt good, but what is lacking is the flavor. Perhaps that is the goal - keep it mild so everyone enjoys?

The staff were pleasant and helpful in clarifying the menu. Place was clean and well lit with plenty of windows and seating

All things considered, they are the best bbq in the area by virtue of being the only bbq in the area. That said, it is not bad by any means. The place is new and I feel they have potential to become...

My recent takeout experience from the Phoenix Smokehouse in Rindge, NH left much to be desired. The menu features a variety of smoked meats, and I opted for the ribs, anticipating the renowned flavors.

Regrettably, the ribs were a major disappointment. They were dry and over-smoked, resulting in a texture that was tough and devoid of the juicy tenderness that defines excellent barbecue. The smoky flavor was overpowering, completely masking any seasoning or the natural taste of the meat.

Adding to the dissatisfaction were the prices, which were notably expensive. While I acknowledge that quality barbecue often comes at a premium, the cost at Phoenix Smokehouse did not align with the quality of the food served. The meal simply did not justify the price, leaving me feeling shortchanged.

On a positive note, the staff was friendly and attentive, providing good service despite the evident shortcomings in the kitchen. However, good service alone cannot compensate for the fundamental issues with the food.

In summary, while the atmosphere and service at Phoenix Smokehouse are good, the quality of the food, particularly the ribs, and the high prices make it difficult to recommend. I hope the restaurant can address these issues to better meet the expectations of their patrons...