On my first visit to Smoke, It was amazingly crowded. So crowded that we decided that we did not want to attempt to even go inside. However, now that the smoke has cleared up a little, we decided to give it another try.
Located at the Belmont Hotel in the space formerly occupied by The Cliff, Smoke is the latest venture of Chris Jeffers and Chris Zielke who are also the duo responsible for the Oak Cliff establishment Bolsa. In addition, former Stephan Pyles Chef Tim Byres is at helm, which should set some of the expectations of how the food should be in this place.
Smoke gets the job done. Unlike the “slap yo’ mama” style that is expected with most Texas barbecue, Smoke’s flavor is more generic. The meat is well prepared and the wood-fire flavor subtle. However, yo can definitely smell the smoke from the building – as soon as you arrive and in your clothes after you leave.
We decided, against the waiter’s recommendations to go for BBQ for our dinner, which is on a separate scantron form than the dinner
menu. The BBQ is served family style so we ordered a little bit of some of the various meats to try. We tried the Beer Can Farm Chicken(meh), Lemon and Sage Brine Turkey Breast, Hot Links, Sweet Paprika and Fennel Seed Sausage, Dry Rubbed Spar Ribs, Andullie Hot Links, BBQ Pinto Beans, Hominy Casserole and Jicama and Cabbage Slaw. For dessert we ordered the pecan pie and the key lime pie.
After ordering we were presented with four separate sauces; House (maple), Tejano (spiciest), Vinegar (for the Carolina Pork) and a mustard horse radish. The waiter explained each of them thoroughly as he popped the top on each of the bottles like a bottle of beer.
Out favorites: Dry Rubbed Spare ribs, Sweet Paprika and Fennel Seed Sausage, Turkey Breast, Hominy Casserole and Jicama, Cabbage Slaw and the Pecan Pie.
Least Favorites: No one at the table like the sauces, the chicken didn’t have much flavor and the piece I had was tough. The BBQ beans almost made one person at the table mad and the Key Lime Pie gave us the biggest laugh at the table.
After leaving the place and having drinks over at the Bar Belmont we had already come up with the nickname “Smoke and Mirrors”. Not because the food was bad but because, we couldn’t figure out if this place was trying to be BBQ joint or not. Judging by the fact that they have two separate menus, I’m not sure that they know either.
Was it good? Sure. Will I come back? Probably just to try the chef inspired menu and not the BBQ.
Smoke
901 Fort Worth Avenue
Dallas, TX 75208
