Mr Pigs Smokery — Restaurant in Shakopee

We visited this place yesterday for the first time. We started with the smoked wings and while they were juicy, tender and flavorful, they weren’t very smoky. They did have a nice char to them though! I didn’t care much for the buffalo sauce as it was too vinegary.

My husband ordered the combo plate and I ordered a two meat plate (brisket and turkey). We were very underwhelmed with most of the meats.

While the brisket was tender, juicy and melt in your mouth, it had absolutely no flavor. Didn’t taste the smoke or any sort of bark and had a minimal smoke ring. It was also served just barely warm on both our plates.

The pulled pork completely lacked flavor and has absolutely no bark served with it. Personally, I think every serving of pulled pork should have a bite of the bark. It was almost cold when we received it as well. Neither of us ate much of it at all.

The ribs were cooked perfectly but again, no smoke or any flavor. Everything had to be doused in sauce. My favorite was actually the turkey, that was juicy and actually flavorful!

The sides were the better part of our meal. We tried the coleslaw, which was fresh and very good, the baked beans, which were also good, fresh cut fries, and we each got a cornbread muffin. Muffin was good but sweet. Personally, I like when a sweet muffin is served with a salted butter and a savory muffin is served with a sweet butter to balance the flavors. The sweet on sweet was just toooo sweet!

We had a few different old fashioneds which were well made and appreciated their whiskey selection (although some very over priced).

Not sure we will be back, as the meats just didn’t impress us at all. Definitely need more flavor! And personally didn’t like the very tomato based sauces on the table. Glad I also asked for the Kentucky bourbon sauce as I doused all our meat in that to give it something! I will also add, please do something about the jars the sauce I served in. Need squeeze jars. The tops of both sauces on our table were covered in sauce. Sauce all over the inside of it and your hand got nasty opening the lid. Big turn off! And wet naps or a moist napkin would be nice after the meal.

It is fun to have another spot in Shakopee though and hope...

Last month I was in Shakopee visiting family and discovered Mr Pig's Smokery. Now normally I have the worst luck and find the best place to eat the last day of my trip, by some amazing stroke of luck I found Mr Pig my first night there! I spent the next two weeks trying to work my way through the food and drink menu. I am a huge fan of smoked food, if done right, and man do these guys do it right! I basically tried all of the smoked options, all top notch, including the wings, which are always hard to do right, but these were probably the best smoked wings I every had. My wife will enjoy smoked food as well but not every day like I could, luckily the menu also offers enough variety to keep her happy as well, her favorite was the field greed salad with Salmon, it was fantastic. Loved the Smash burger also, but man The Pile, gonna miss that monster, brisket, pulled pork, mac and cheese and cole slaw, it was a battle but got it done. This is a brand new location and building so great atmosphere and decor, very cool bar/lounge area to just drink if you like, which I did, worked my way through the entire draft and Old Fashioned selection, and while normally a traditionalist I must say by the end my goto was the Mezcal Old Fashioned! The only thing I didn't manage to come close to finishing of was their Bourbon selection, it is massive and impressive. Luckily I plan on being back in Shakopee in the fall for a couple of weekends of horse racing at Canterbury which is right across the road, and hopefully the new amphitheater which supposed to hold close to 20,000 people is ready to go with a good concert on the schedule. Mr Pig will again by my first stop, John and Chis are top notch at offering Shakopee a first...

We used to go the old spot over by old Dangerfield's area, so it is nice to see it reopen outside of Canterbury Park. Their BBQ is solid, not best in TCs, but certainly best south of river I have had to date. Nice venue for sure, out patio is nice with both Japanese and individual table canapies, and inside has a nice mixture of tables/booths, and bar seating. Both areas have high and low top seating. Their famous Pile is a great option if you are hungry, and the meat plates you can't go wrong with. The curds were good, though a little on the small side compared to most other (Ellsworth Dairy) curd apps you get other places. I agree with one of the other reviewers that I remember their food being better, but regardless it is good. I thought the Mac & cheese was more seasoned previously🤔. I also remember the cornbread being a bit more buttery. Maybe that are still getting things tuned up! 😉 Staff was great, super friendly and accommodating. Know the menu, and the right amount attentiveness to make sure you are serviced but not disruptive. Eager to please, and a bit playful. Glad they are making a comeback and I am sure we will go many times in future. This has become a nice like food spot with the other restaurants and brewery in that area! Great spot if you are jonesing for BBQ...