Smoke & Barrel
| Address: | 2471 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA |
| Phone: | +1 202-319-9353 |
| Site: | smokeandbarreldc.com |
| Rating: | 4.2 |
| Working: | 5–11PM 5–11PM 5–11PM 5–11PM 5PM–12AM 11AM–3PM 11AM–3PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 6
MA
Matia Green
It took 15 minutes (when we finally started paying attention to the time) to get glasses of water. It then took another 10-15 minutes for us to place our order. Keep in mind that the restaurant was far from busy during my visit. Our waiter was extremely unwelcoming and uninviting. The only reason we stayed honestly was because we were starving and didnt feel like going to wait in another line. The food - well, lets just say it left ALOT to be desired. The brisket and ribs were pretty good but that was about it. The BBQ baked beans tasted like they were directly from the can and warmed up. No extra seasoning, flavor, etc. added to them AT ALL. To be perfectly honest, Ive had much better BBQ at friends and family cookouts. As I was looking at some of the reviews, I see that the owner left a very rude comment under the last reviewers post (as Im sure he/she will do on mine) and that just serves to me as an indication of the level of class you can expect. A true professional would attempt to make amends with a disgruntled customer and perhaps ask them to come back in and affirm that theyll ensure a better experience on their next visit. Clearly not this gentleman/lady. I will say that I saw 2 waitresses who seemed to be very attentive to their tables but the gentlemen who waited on our table was FAR from that. If youre accustomed to good BBQ - Im sorry to report that you may be disappointed here. Ive never - EVER - left a posting about a restaurant online before, but I had to this time because my experience was just that unpleasant. My apologies for the short story I just composed :-)
KA
Kate Bigam
You guys, this brisket. THIS BRISKET. It is just so good, & I dont really know what else to say about it. The truth is, I grew up with a relative loathing of brisket - the Jewish kind that we have on Rosh HaShanah & at other big get-togethers. Ive just never been a fan, & so I assumed I wouldnt be into BBQ brisket either. Ohhhh, how wrong I was. Smoke & Barrels BBQ brisket is tender, but not quite fall-apart tender. Its touch enough not to be, like, weirdly soft, but its soft enough not to be, like, annoying tough. All of their sauces are served on the side - already on the table - so you can take your pick, or try them all. Their sides are great, too, with preference to the cheddar jalapeno grits. They have vegan wings, too, so if youre a vegan/vegetarian or youre with someone else who is, you can still find something to chow down on here. Ill say that I, personally, dont like the texture of their vegan wings (Im not a vegan but dont eat a ton of meat, so Ive tried them). Theyre sort of... spongy/weird? But the sauce is tasty, & at least you know youre not going to get any gristle. But frankly, their meat is cooked so immaculately that if youre not a vegetarian? You should be ordering the meat. The one thing I dont necessarily love about Smoke & Barrel is how damn dark the place is - like, cant-see-the-person-youre-with dark, come nightfall. Its got ambiance, to be sure, but I wish theyd turn up the lights, like, a little. Still, Ill be back - over & over & over. Did I mention that they serve Narragansett in a can? Nothing as American as brisket & beer!
DA
Darran Smith
If you go to Smoke & Barrel just for the beer or bourbon and the bar crowd, then this is your place. The selection of adult libations is plentiful and the happy hour crowd is lively and spirited. I had a delicious hard cider but cant really speak on the bourbon selection. My partner and I shared the roasted jalapeno grit cakes which were, by far, the highlight of our meal. The cakes were nice and crunchy on the outside, creamy and delicious on the inside. We would have been delighted having them as-is, but the chipotle pesto just took these grit cakes to the next level. Im drooling just thinking about them. The rest of our meal (the BBQ) was disappointing and left me wondering if Smoke & Barrel actually used any smoke. I had the sampler, which offered a generous portion of brisket, chicken, sausage and ribs. The meat was moist and tender but lacked any flavor of its own - as if it had been roasted in an oven instead of in a smoker. Luckily, the sauce was good because I had to use a lot of it to liven up the meat. My baked beans tasted like doctored-up canned beans, and my cole slaw lacked any dressing. My partner had the stuffed spud, which was really just a baked potato cut in half with some (flavorless) pulled pork piled on top. I think we both envisioned something where the meat and potato were more fully integrated. So I wouldnt say our meal was bad... it just wasnt great. Some say that DC doesnt do BBQ well - which may be true within the city limits; however theres good BBQ to be had in the suburbs... much better than at Smoke & Barrel.
AS
Ashlei Selden
Let me start by saying this is hands down my favorite restaurant. Stumbled across it about 2 years ago while in the area for the first time. My boyfriend and I are from Richmond, VA and weve been making any and every excuse to visit the area so that we can stop here, since. I always get the vegan wings. Theyre an appetizer so I usually double my order. I prefer them wet or muddy. Ive tried vegan wings before by making my own at home and by buying from various restaurants - none compare. Even my meat-loving, carnivorous boyfriend thinks they rule... Quote: "I could go vegetarian if all meat replacements were that good." If you dont eat meat, or even if you do, youll love these. FOR DESSERT: The sweet potato donuts are out of this world. I mean it. Sweet potato as a baked good may sound odd and make you hesitant (at least it did for me), but dont turn them down. Theyre so good. Try them. Also, previous reviews have mentioned bad service but I have to disagree. Hosts and servers have been nothing but kind to us and the food always comes out relatively quick. Ive never been disappointed. Go here!
ME
Melanie B.
Ive been eating at Smoke and Barrel over a year. Im sitting at their Sunday brunch right now, which Im pleased to say is as excellent as their dinner service. The food is all amazing, Ive never tried anything I didnt like. I would highly suggest the grit cakes with chipotle pesto or the fried pickles. Also the sweet potato fries are AMAZING. If you get any sauce, the chipotle honey butter is a personal favorite of mine. DELICIOUS. My fiancée is vegetarian, and we always order the vegan wings (which are amazing). Ive also tried all the meaty options on the menu, which are very good. Great options for carnivores and vegetarians alike. Also the sweet potato donuts are to die for :D Incredible drink menu. Right now over 25 craft beers on tap (always changing and always fantastic), plus a bunch of bourbons, whiskeys, full bar, signature cocktails, shandy, mead, cider-pretty much anything you could want. This is always my go to BBQ bourbon and beer spot, and I suggest it to everyone. Must try!
JE
Jessica Macri
As you walk up the street, dodging traffic and gawking at the proud roof top bar (its very colorful!) you come to a modern day saloon. The outside is decorated with barrels and wooden signs to announce you have arrived at the Smoke and Barrel. This place has two floors. The top, street level is more of a quiet restaurant. The downstairs is more bar. You order from the bartender and pay, then the kitchen delivers your food to your table. I had the fried pickles. They were pretty good, but not the best Ive had. My friend had the chicken nacho platter, and it was a smorgasbord of gooey melty cheese, warm delicious chicken, and fresh crispy nachos. The drinks were also very good, and reasonably priced. My table tried a few scotchs, and a few IPAs. I also had a cider. Their selections were pretty great. I highly recommend coming here, and look forward to going again soon!
