The Smoke Shop BBQ - Assembly Row — Restaurant in Somerville

I had high hopes walking into The Smoke Shop BBQ. The location was nice, the ambiance felt inviting, and the service was actually solid—friendly, attentive, and efficient. But unfortunately, all the charm in the world couldn’t make up for what hit the table.

Let’s start with the hotdog wrapped in bacon. Sounds great on paper, right? What we got was a partially cooked bacon strip clinging to a lukewarm hotdog. One end was chewy and underdone, the other barely crisp. Bacon should add texture and flavor—not fear of undercooked pork. It was a bad start, and sadly, it only got worse.

Moving on to the heart of any BBQ spot—the meats. I tried the brisket, ribs, and pulled pork, hoping at least one would shine. None did. The brisket was bone-dry and flavorless, like it had been sliced hours ago and left out to fend for itself. Ribs were tough, clinging to the bone like they didn’t want to be eaten. No smoky flavor, no tenderness—just chew and disappointment. The pulled pork came close to being edible, but only because it was drenched in sauce. Strip that away, and it was as dry and bland as the rest.

Sides didn’t offer any redemption either. The pimento mac and cheese was completely overwhelmed by the pimento—so much so that it drowned out any hint of cheese. Instead of creamy comfort food, it tasted like someone dumped an entire jar of pimentos into a bland pasta base. The baked beans were advertised as having brisket in them, but I couldn’t find a single shred. Just a pool of generic beans, lacking the richness or smoky depth you expect. And the cornbread? Dry as sand. Crumbly, flavorless, and borderline stale. No butter, no honey, nothing could help it go down. Every bite was a challenge.

Now, to be fair, not everything was terrible. The service really was good—our server was pleasant and efficient. And the location itself is well done: clean, welcoming, with the kind of vibe you want from a BBQ joint. But great service and nice decor can only carry a place so far. When the food—the thing people come for—is this consistently bad, it overshadows everything else.

The Smoke Shop BBQ left me with an upset stomach, disappointed, and baffled at how a place can get so much wrong in one meal. I wanted to love it. Instead, I walked away wishing I’d gone anywhere else. If you’re craving BBQ,...

After looking for a venue for some time, my wife and I chose the Smoke Shop BBQ to host our wedding reception. It's a huge decision that you only get to make once, so of course we knew we needed to do it right. I have to say, we have absolutely no regrets. We did it right!!!

Everything about our reception was just right. I'll start with the obvious: The food was incredible. I always thought you had to take a trip down South to get that kind of barbecue, but I was totally wrong. It was some of the most impressive barbecue I've had in my life, and our guests agreed. The shock and excitement across our guests eyes as the platters were laid out was priceless. We will definitely be returning as casual diners!

Our event coordinator CJ and her supporting staff were so responsive and helpful. When we reached out to explore the venue as an option, CJ was very responsive. Even the times I took a week or more to get back to her, she would usually reply within 24hrs. She set us up with a menu, made suggestions for our party size, helped with decor, and really went above and beyond our expectations to make it a special day. Planning a wedding can be so overwhelming, but they helped make things so easy and stress free.

Finally, the staff went even further by helping us set up. We dropped off the boxes, shared the vision, put up some lights, and by the time we walked in the next day to greet our guests the space was completely transformed into the Wonderland my wife had imagined. I was more worried about the technical things like the seating arrangement and order of events, but that all too was handled flawlessly.

As a bonus, and maybe most importantly, it didn't feel like the staff was staff - if that makes sense. It felt more like they were family there to celebrate with us. They didn't just give us a space or a product or something to eat, they made such an effort to take care of us in the way you might expect family or friends to, on a personal level.

I could go on and on, but instead I'll just make the simple recommendation that you go check it out yourself. I promise you won't be let down! Bring your appetite!

Thanks CJ, Shan, Ashley, and everyone else who helped put the "special" in our special...

Holy Smokes!!

Been hitting up Andy Husbands’s Smoke Shop for a few years and figured it was finally time to show some love. These particular pictures were from my recent takeout experience.

Idk where to even start. I know BBQ is usually about the meat and the sides are often an afterthought but that sure ain’t the case at The Smoke Shop. Their two potato salad has got a nice crunch to it and is a far cry from boring potato salad. It’s my fav side. A close second is their zucchini salad. It’s crisp and adds a nice citrus bite. While not pictured, there beans are bomb. I love that they aren’t very thick, but still bring plenty flavor. The cornbread is something special. It’s deliciously dense and topped with a sweet honey butter.

The meats are obviously where it’s at. I don’t normally like chicken wings, but these aren’t your normal wing. They pack a ton of that Smokey flavor and are topped with an agave something that adds a delicate sweetness. The ribs are ridiculous. Tons of meat, Tons of flavor, tons of moisture. Idk what else to say. The brisket is one of the best I’ve ever had, not even kidding. Yeah, it’s not as good after the 15 minute ride home but when you get it fresh it really is incredible. The crust and smoke ring is gorgeous. We’ve tried all of the other meats they offer, and they do not disappoint. If you get a chance, swing by on Friday or Saturday and try the Big Beef rib. It’s a little pricy at 41 a plate but it’s off the hook ridiculously good.

Last but certainly not least, their BBQ sauces are mouthwatering. They’ve got the hot, the sweet and the tangy which all bring something different to your meal. My only complaint is that you don’t get enough BBQ with your take out order. Thankfully, they sell bottles of their sauces which frequently make appearances in my kitchen.

When it’s all said and done, you’re going to be hard pressed to find a better BBQ joint in New England. No joke. Some Places have really good meat, and blasé sides, but not The Smoke Shop. They do it all...