Sugarfire Smoke House — Restaurant in Saint Charles

3 stars. Highly rated (4.6 on Google) spot with multiple locations. Featured on numerous TV shows. This review based on one visit to specific location. Old school order at the counter, formica, and linoleum type of place with some outdoor tables. Wide ranging menu including chopped pork, brisket, pork ribs plus salmon, chicken and turkey. Served as sandwiches and plates and multi meat platters. Sharing one of these platters was our go to today with three meats and two sides. Meat choices were the pork ribs, beef brisket, and sausage link. Coleslaw and potato salad as sides with an added pick of the hashbrown casserole also. I specifically asked if the link was spicy (don’t do spicy) and was told no. Unlike the menu on the web-seen after the fact-the menu in house does not list it as a Jalapeno Cheddar Link. We choked it down with soda rather than try to arrange an exchange. Disappointing situation that should be addressed asap. The pork ribs were nothing to look at with a combination of overcooked/black edges plus still powdery rub on the outside. Usually, the rub will have caramelized during smoking rather than look like it was just shaken on. May just be in their process. These definitely tasted better than they looked. The meat was the highlight of our meal. Nicely complimented by one of the many sauce offerings-The Honey Badger. We also tried the Sweet St Louis and The Alabama White. Neither of the latter two added much to the meats in our opinion. Our brisket looked delicious with a clear pinkish smoke ring but was much drier than expected, even on the fatty side. Did indeed taste smokey but ultimately needed the help of some sauce to be really enjoyable. The slaw and potato salad were unremarkable but the hashbrown casserole was a unique, very tasty, side. Potatoes, pimento cheese, and some unidentifiable herbs baked together. Would eat again for sure. Another interesting thing is the soda sold here is from a local-ish Illinois family bottler called Excel. Non diet versions are made with 100% pure cane sugar. The included in the platter price cola I tried had a bit of an herby taste and was delicious. We felt underwhelmed after our meal here and wished more attention had been paid to some of the finer details. May have just been a...

Update 4/3/23: Great as always! They worked so hard to put the place back together after the floods, and haven't missed a step. Highly recommend everyone tries this place, their food, and sauces at least once!

This place is just fantastic! I've been here 5 times now and it's quickly becoming a once a week lunch stop for me. The employees are all so friendly and hard working, and you can tell that they are short staffed but still haven't missed a beat.

I regularly get the two meat combo with brisket and pulled pork. There are multiple home style sides to choose from, with me usually going with the mac and cheese and baked beans. Everything down to the beans are just loaded with flavor and sure to leave anyone undoing a button on their pants by the end!

I've seen everything from giant meat loaded sandwiches (Saw the "Big Money" for the first time today and wow just doesn't describe it)

Not to mention their side selection of IPAs and beer, as well as a selection of home town favorite bottled and fountain sodas like Ski. They also have home style desserts like pecan pie, peach cobbler, and seasonal items.

They also have a great selection of bbq sauces such as White BBQ, Stl Sweet, Coffee sauce, and all kinds of things to keep things interesting.

This place deserves its good name, even in today's trying times. They even do military discounts for veterans and active service, something you don't see often these days.

I will recommend that everyone try this place at least once, just know you will be returning often...

Yes we went there on Father's Day. The girls does the cashier wear extremely friendly. But I have been there before and the cooks. The guys that were behind the counter cooking. They are always brain dead they can't tell you anything. To be honest they're very very rude. And not very informative whatsoever about the menu. Or what they can get you. That's why I don't go there ever. I usually do curbside cuz I like the girls better they're more friendly. But yeah I mean their cooks behind the counters just stand back there real smart aleck. And they just have attitudes I've had that happen to me in the past there too. They almost appear to be like they're doing you a favor. And they don't inform you about anything on the menu or what you might like or they can possibly get you. Very rude if I ever do I do curb service cuz I just don't like that environment. It's happened to me about four times in the past that's why I never go there. The only reason I went on Father's Day cuz my daughter asked me to. And to be honest she found them to be extremely rude too. I did find the girl that cleaned our table up. To be very friendly she was nice and polite. Yeah they really need to do something about their attitudes there behind the cooking station. Sorry if the review sounds kind of sour but I'm just posting the same way that they were to us sour. Good food cool environment. But very strange people. They almost appear to be like they're offended that you're ordering. I don't know something strange anyway good day. Try to work on that...