Shorty's Smokehouse — Restaurant in Waterloo

First thing, this is a 5 star review with 4 stars for dramatic effect. The ONLY reason that I did not give them a 5 star is because we couldn't try to the pulled pork. The only reason we couldn't try it is because they were out of it. I find that as a plus!!!

This place in on the main road and easy to find. It was late when we went and were the only people there as it was an hour before closing, which explained the pulled pork being gone, but the staff treated us as if we were the first customers of the day.

Friendly welcoming staff. When we said we hadn't been there before, the man taking our order explained the menu to us and then told us the horrible, heartbreaking news about the pulled pork. I am going to keep coming back to the pulled pork because I really want to try it knowing how the other food tasted.

We ordered the smoked turkey club and for sides had macaroni and cheese and pit beans. We had our choice of seating since we were only ones there and by the time we sat down after paying, within 3 minutes, our food was brought out to us. Fast service!

First the sides: The macaroni and cheese was creamy and fresh as if it was just made. The pit beans (baked beans) had some of the best smoked b.b.q. flavor I have ever had in baked beans. They are one of my top baked beans after just having them once.

The sandwich: Toasted bread, shredded lettuce (but not too much), the best smoked and crispy bacon I have had in a long time, and the turkey.....tender, juicy, and the smoke ring was perfect. For it to be a sandwich, it was hands down one of the best sandwiches from any b.b.q. place I have had. We wanted to try tor sauces and instead of us having to go get the sauce ourselves, the hostess brought us two newly filled sauce bottles with their two flavors: "OG", original and the the "HB", honey bourbon. They were both great sauces with the "HB" being a bit sweeter than the "OG".

In conclusion, we may not be back next week or next month, because we live about an hour and a half away, but we will take a drive back to have Shorty's again. You should do the same. Oh yeah, try to pulled pork and let me know how...

🔥🍖 Shorty’s Smokehouse: Brisket Bliss Meets Retro Realness 🍖🔥

After navigating the twists and turns of Illinois Caverns like BBQ-hungry Indiana Joneses, we were hangry enough to gnaw on a hiking pole. Luckily, Shorty’s Smokehouse in the heart of downtown swooped in like a smoked meat superhero. 🦸‍♂️🍗

🏚️ Atmosphere: Classic Charm with a VHS Soul Housed in the former City Hotel, Shorty’s instantly gives off historic grit and smoky allure. You swing open the old wooden doors and boom—nostalgia hits harder than a roundhouse kick from Jean-Claude Van Damme. The vibe? A love letter to ’80s and ’90s movies. There are reclaimed doors as tables, rustic floors, booths that probably hosted Clint Eastwood at least once, and window seating fashioned from salvaged beams. It’s like dining inside a retro movie montage—but with brisket.

👋 Staff Vibes: The crew was friendly, fast, and unfazed by our post-cavern grunge. Service was sharp and sizzling, just like the meat they serve.

🥪 Brisket Breakdown: Flavor-packed. Juicy. Smoky. Honestly? That sandwich was so good, we considered adopting it. The bark had bite, and even though the meat could easily go solo, the sweet BBQ sauce took it to karaoke-night-level greatness. 🎤🍖

🥗 Side Hustle:

• Coleslaw: Tangy, crunchy, and totally fresh. The ideal plus-one to smoky royalty. • Gouda Smoked Mac & Cheese: Creamy with a smoky backbone—like if mac & cheese grew up and joined a blues band. 🧀🎷

🧪 Sauce Lab: Three tasty options, and all of them brought something to the table. Even though the brisket didn’t beg for sauce, that sweet drizzle hit like BBQ gold.

🎬 Final Scene: If you’re chasing Midwest flavor, nostalgic vibes, and portions that high-five your soul, Shorty’s is your final boss of BBQ. A delicious detour with character, heart, and a whole lotta meat.

#BrisketBandits #SmokedSoulFood #ShortysSmokehouse #RetroAndRibeye #CavernToCravings #FoodieFuel #GoudaGlory #SaucedAndSatisfied #AvgJoeEats...

As a former Texan, they trim the brisket right and smoke it beautifully. Adequately moist, not sauced. Beef burnt ends are available if one asks, at least some of the time. It's on par with Hutchins BBQ, which is the best I've ever had. Maybe not quite there, but darned close in quality and hundreds of miles closer in distance.

Sauces and ribs are also good. Not overly sweet -- a wonderful departure from what's common here. The original is solid. The spicy is not spicy enough for me, but probably good for most. They have a Carolina mustard bbq sauce which is wonderful and unusual to find in this area.

Pork BBQ is also a win -- at least the ribs. Their sauce is good, and that carries into the ribs. I haven't tried the pulled pork personally, my family ate it before I could have any. I presume it's also good.

The only miss as a former Texan is the beans. I wish they were charro beans, not sweet/Boston beans. I respect that it's a different BBQ culture, but still miss my charro beans. I can't fault them for it.

As for missing/menu expansion -- I'd love to see some hot links on the menu for the complete Texas experience (there's a butcher in Kirkwood that makes them). I don't recall seeing banana pudding either, but may have missed that one.

Atmosphere is... Strange but not bad. Vintage film memorabilia and props is not something I'd put anywhere near a smoker, but the smoke does not appear to get into the restaurant much at all. Someone has a passion for movies and it shows. Cool stuff, just odd for...