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It was our first trip to Big Sur and of course we were on the hunt for a killer dinner spot. With the CA regulations due to COVID-19, there are a limited number of restaurants open as each spot must have a specific area for outdoor dining. We did not have to look far - We were staying at Ventana Big Sur Resort and the Big Sur Smokehouse is located at the top of the hill at the resorts entrance - Score! Both the website and the Yelp page state the restaurant closes at 8pm each evening - We came in around 7:25 and asked the staff if it was too late {I am always very aware of not wanting to keep people late} - and they were so beyond welcoming. We received a very warm welcome from the "smoke master extraordinaire" {as we called him} and he told us a few of his favorites on the menu - After this, our mouth was watering and we could not wait to try everything the menu. And props for individual hand sanitizers at each table! So many menu options: Platters {with your choice of Tri-Tip, Hot Links, Pork Ribs, Quarter Chicken or Cauliflower}, Salads, Sammies {Trip-Tip, Smoked Chicken or Hot Links} and a bunch of sides {Chili Coleslaw, Smoked Corn Relish, Potato Salad or Baked Mac & Cheese} - Endless options! We opted to share a platter {your choice of one meat, two sides and two rolls}: Tri-Tip, Potato Salad, Chili Coleslaw and of course a couple of IPA's! The rub on the Tri-Tip was spot on and the meat was perfectly cooked! Coleslaw for the Hubs and Potato Salad for me - Both were the perfect compliment to the Tri-Tip - Pair that with those perfectly sweet potato rolls.. Delish! We were only in Big Sur for two nights and I would have eaten here for every meal each of the days {we didn't.. but we could have}! This is a must if you are craving some amazing BBQ!
Stopped by here for some BBQ that I seen on another review. Well it WOULD be nice to have FLY ZAPPERS! There was TONS of them! Yes, I get it..there's food and it's in the "wilderness" but come on, buy a few fly zappers and attempt to limit them! And then there's the $5 charge for any and everything! Only plus side was the pulled pork was good but for $30 for 1 meat and 2 side wasn't worth it.
"Dad was in the back at the barbecue. A gas grill now, thank goodness, so Dad could stop loading on the lighter fluid with a hose. He wore a chef's hat somewhat taller than a control tower and an apron that read REFORMED VEGETARIAN."―Harlan Coben, One False Move A virtual oasis in the dessert that is Big Sur. The Big Sur Smokehouse is located right-off Highway 1 and housed in a restored property that dates back to 1867. It can be real easy to miss but keep an eye-out for the little red building. Here's a G,M&U: The Good: -All the meat we sampled fucking LEGIT BBQ and was all-around fantastic. I might even say some of the best Q I've had in Cali! The Brisket and chicken were both expertly smoked, juicy and delicious. The links were also quite tasty but didn't appear to be housemade? However, I could be wrong. -Collard greens were also friggin' delicious and super-legit. -Great selection of local craft brews on-tap and even housemade sodas. The Meh: -House pickles, while a nice touch, were kinda funky and sour. Which is sad because I love pickles but these were just odd. -House BBQ sauces all had good concepts but the execution kinda lacked. None of the flavors stood-out to us but honestly with Q'd meat this good you don't really need sauce. -Service was a bit gruff and could've been friendlier overall. The Ugly: -The BBQ beans were crunchy. Seriously. WTF is up with crunchy, under-cooked beans at BBQ places? How does that even happen?! It's really a shame too because the flavor of the sauce they were in was outstanding. So much wasted potential... -Mac and cheese was awful, as well. The mac was cooked to death that you could've sucked it thru a straw. -The prices are borderline ridiculous but that's to be expected when you're in the middle of nowhere. But $10 for a tiny cup of beer is literal highway robbery... -For the price they could up the portion sizes a touch, so at least one doesn't feel completely ripped-off. Despite the highway robbery the food was legit fantastic and I will most likely be back when we're hiking in the area. Highly recommended but get ready to take it in the wallet.
Pre-Covid Review: A hidden gem in Big Sur! I was honestly only looking for a decent quick bite as I was doing some hiking and sightseeing in the area, so I had low expectations, but this turned out to be a great spot. First off, a good amount of easy parking behind the place, which they also have a good, clean outhouse restroom at the lot. We came here for lunch and it wasn't overly packed. The nice thing is that you can pick and choose your meats to go with a variety of sides, so there's something for everyone. I did not regret my pulled pork choice, and it was also cool that they have some unique sauce options that you can try. The sauces are up to you to add, like I enjoyed the coffee-stout BBQ sauce I had with my pork.
It's amazing that Ventana Big Sur now includes the Smokehouse as part of their all inclusive package. Everything except alcohol is free! As a result we tried every single meat as well as every side and dessert. And every sauce. They make everything in house. My preferences were; 1. Brisket (fatty and smoky, lots of flavor) 2. Spicy sausage (thick, juicy) 3. Beer can chicken (very juicy and flavorful) 4. St. Louis Ribs (a bit dry, not fall off the bone like in Texas) 5. Pulled pork 6. Tri-tip (dry and lean) 7. Jalapeño cheese sausage (I don't eat cheese hence last on my list) My friend's preferences were (if I remember correctly): 1. Pulled pork 2. Brisket 3. Jalapeño cheese sausage 4. Spicy sausage 5. Chicken 6. Ribs 7. Tri-tip In my group of 8 people it was clear that brisket and sausages were the winner since there was the least of these left. Nobody really liked the tri-tip. We also all LOVED the gem salad, which came with tri-tip but you can swap with another meat. As for the sides, people didn't talk about it much since they were all focused on the meat, but based on the leftovers I took home, I only had beans and soup left. And nobody touched the Hawaiian rolls. People liked all the sauces with bbq and mustard being the top favorites. The seasonal cobbler was a hit, didn't get to take any home. The bread pudding was well-liked but I did have to take some home. La Colombe coffee cans are highly recommended. Giving 5 stars due to value but if I had to pay out of pocket, it's a bit expensive for the quality so probably 4 stars. The salads would be the best value I think since they also include meat.
Stopped for food while driving through big sur. We were very confused by where this was located because our gps kept taking us down to the campground and then up the hill to a parking lot. I was disappointed by how fatty the brisket was, personally I don't like that. Overall the Mac and cheese and their meats (ordered brisket and pulled pork) were very peppery and well seasoned. I could see how some would say it was overly seasoned - mainly based on peoples preferences.
The meat is okay, nothing really special. I came here on Friday night for late dinner around 7PM and it is empty. I order 2 meat plate with extra spicy sausage and brisket. The spicy sausage was spicy and okay. The brisket was tender and fatty but too much fat on it. I felt like half of it was meat and the other is beef fat which if you don't want to increase your cholesterol then you shouldn't eat the fat. The tri-tip was a little dry. Each meat plate is $30 with a meat choice and 2 side. We choose the squash soup, the potatoes salad, coleslaw and pickle something. I believed all the side dishes was okay. There are 3 sauces choice and we choose all three. Overall, I would stop by if I am in a Big Sur for BBQ. But don't expect anything extraordinary as services was okay.
Stayed at Ventana and this was one of the meal options. Its located at the bottom of Ventana which can be reached by a short golf cart ride or a steady inclined walk. We arrived right when it opened and there was already a line out the door. We opted for the brisket and the pulled pork with coleslaw, potato salad, mac & cheese, and blueberry crumble. Since we were guests of Ventana we were able to order off the menu but if we were not staying here I'm not sure if I would stop by. The meal itself would have been close to $100 if we had to pay which was not worth it based on the portion size. The brisket was probably the best dish as it had a ton of flavor.
Came here because 1. We were staying at Ventana and it is at the base of the resort and 2. it has a dog friendly patio. Husband got the brisket platter with mac and cheese, beans. I had the pulled pork with potato salad and cole slaw. The food was hit or miss since the cole slaw/beans were tasty but the mac and cheese was lackluster and the potato salad was bland (how can mac and cheese be so boring?). The highlight of the lunch, brisket and pulled pork were both dry and just ok. Really disappointed with the meat since we expected really juicy, flavorful brisket from the reviews. What saved our lunch were the pickled onion/pickles and Hawaiian rolls. We made our own little sandwiches with lots of bbq sauce slathered on, and that made it pretty good. Portions are generous, lunch platter is plenty for one person. Restaurant is very clean and the staff was friendly. Overall, I'd come back for the convenience if I was staying at Ventana, but for us, it isn't a must stop destination otherwise.
I hate to post negative reviews, but I had a terrible experience when I visited this establishment. I ordered two meat plates which were $30 each and come with 1 meat, 2 sides and 2 rolls. I also ordered some bread pudding which was $8 and a few cokes which I have no idea what they charge for but the total for a meal for 2 was over $80. The person I was with liked their ribs and literally nothing else on their plate. That was a far better experience than me however because they served me chicken was super undercooked. There was so much pink inside Barbie could have decorated her Malibu dream house with it. In all honesty, I ordered the chicken to feed to my dog but I am glad I checked it first because raw chicken can be really dangerous. Can you imagine if I fed that to a child that was dining with me? Absolutely unacceptable. Also, the portion size of the meat was ridiculous. I am 300lbs and no one could eat that much meat in a sitting... however the sides were small and yet super bland. My potato salad was hard; it was clear the potatoes were undercooked and the dressing was terrible. The macaroni for mac & cheese were these strange spirals that mushed into dough clumps in your mouth when you ate it and it was served cold. With the exception of the ribs, we literally took a small bite of everything (except the chicken) and left it all on the tray. The whole experience was very unappetizing and we had already left by the time we realized they never even gave us our bread pudding so I can't speak to that but I would not recommend dining here under any circumstances.
1 star for being able to get cell reception here, and 1 star for ok portion sizes if you order meat a la carte, and I'm being generous here. I did not have high expectations for this place given that they are one of the few food options available in the area, but it was a disaster from the start. Upon walking in, I asked what the pricing on meat a la carte was and I got an eye roll from one of the employees. Bizarre, given that this is a standard practice at most BBQ places... Once we actually got our food, I will say that the portion sizes were decent. That said, they screwed up our order by giving us pulled pork instead of tri-tip, the pulled pork and brisket were all super dry, and the collard greens were sour to the point of being inedible. The ribs were the only serviceable item on the plate. Would not recommend.
As this is my 100th review, I'm so glad I can dedicate it to Big Sur Smokehouse!!! From start to finish, I would like to assert this has been one of the best dining experiences I have ever had in the history of my Yelping! After a long day of hiking and laying by the beach, a friend and I stopped into this smokehouse. A nice man behind the counter offered us samples of the meat and sides to help us figure out what we wanted. How accommodating and thoughtful! He sold me on the collard greens which I would have otherwise not ordered, as well as the Mac and cheese and pulled pork. We got a couple beers and our platters and sat on the outside patio and proceeded to dig in. All I can say is--wow. It's simply some of the best BBQ I've ever had. I especially loved the pickles and Hawaiian sweet bread along with it. It was all so full of flavor and perfect proportions. Turns out the man who offered us samples in the beginning is the manager/co-owner of the entire smokehouse! He sat down with us as we finished our meals and comped us a couple beers and told us how he started out. It was so wonderful hearing his story. He was a kind man and I'm so happy we met him personally and could support his budding business. I wish the very best to Big Sur smokehouse. They deserve it.
Looking for BBQ south of Carmel and Monterey, come check out BIg Sur Smokehouse. The Big Sur Smokehouse great BBQ. The Brisket and chicken combo I got was delicious and hot and he sides that came with it was great and I really couldn't finish it all. I had to package it up for noshing on it later. They have specialty BBQ sauce that is on the community table. I recommend getting a roll of paper towels, you'll need it. They have a few beers on draft (just ask for the daily selection) and bottled beer and wine in the refrigerated units, as well as soda and waters.. The outside patio is nice and views of Highway 1. Picnic style benches and small tables create a nice ambiance. As of March 19, 2020, they are closed pending the current CoronaVirus outbreak. So, hopefully, they will return to their full glory in the coming months and it is worth checking out.
What a nice little surprise. We were driving and decided that we needed some substance. It is expensive but you have to realize the area you are in. It's a little smokehouse that had tons of seating. We ordered two meals between two adults and one child and it was plenty of food . The atmosphere was very pleasant and the staff friendly. There was ample seating outside with tables inside also. The food was surprisingly delicious! My daughter got the chicken with salad and we also ordered the brisket with side of greens and Mac and cheese. I honestly didn't have high hopes for the Mac and cheese and was so pleasantly surprised!!!! read more
5 years ago
After the uphill slog up to Pfeiffer Falls, I was craving some protein. The Smokehouse totally fit the bill and I was happy with the half rack of smoked ribs that I ordered. My wife and I also shared a salad, which was big enough for two and came with some real smoky flavored chicken. The place is the red building at the entrance to the Ventana Resort. The signage is a little confusing, but the place is easy to find and has lots of parking. read more
**3.5 Stars** California Que Located at the entrance of Alila Ventana, Big Sur Smokehouse is a convenient and resort guest and public accessible stop in beautiful Big Sur Serving an array of classic barbecue choices like smoked brisket, ribs, pulled pork, smoked chicken and more The smoke from the smoker can be seen along Highway 1 and the aroma of BBQ greets you once you enter We sampled an assortment of smoked meats and sides and while it ain't Texas 'Q (is anything in Cali?), the modest portions hit the spot, especially the ribs Meat Plate $30 ~ St. Louis Ribs, Five Cheese Mac N' Cheese, Cider Coleslaw / Smoked Brisket, Five Cheese Mac N' Cheese, Collard Greens with Hamhock / Tri Tip $22 / Seasonal Cobbler $8 / Bread Pudding $8 Big Sur Smokehouse (Big Sur, CA) Big Sur Smokehouse accepts all credit cards and has mainly indoor seating with a few seats outdoors read more
It was our first trip to Big Sur and of course we were on the hunt for a killer dinner spot. With the CA regulations due to COVID-19, there are a limited number of restaurants open as each spot must have a specific area for outdoor dining. We did not have to look far - We were staying at Ventana Big Sur Resort and the Big Sur Smokehouse is located at the top of the hill at the resorts entrance - Score! Both the website and the Yelp page state the restaurant closes at 8pm each evening - We came in around 7:25 and asked the staff if it was too late {I am always very aware of not wanting to keep people late} - and they were so beyond welcoming. We received a very warm welcome from the "smoke master extraordinaire" {as we called him} and he told us a few of his favorites on the menu - After this, our mouth was watering and we could not wait to try everything the menu. And props for individual hand sanitizers at each table! So many menu options: Platters {with your choice of Tri-Tip, Hot Links, Pork Ribs, Quarter Chicken or Cauliflower}, Salads, Sammies {Trip-Tip, Smoked Chicken or Hot Links} and a bunch of sides {Chili Coleslaw, Smoked Corn Relish, Potato Salad or Baked Mac & Cheese} - Endless options! We opted to share a platter {your choice of one meat, two sides and two rolls}: Tri-Tip, Potato Salad, Chili Coleslaw and of course a couple of IPA's! The rub on the Tri-Tip was spot on and the meat was perfectly cooked! Coleslaw for the Hubs and Potato Salad for me - Both were the perfect compliment to the Tri-Tip - Pair that with those perfectly sweet potato rolls.. Delish! We were only in Big Sur for two nights and I would have eaten here for every meal each of the days {we didn't.. but we could have}! This is a must if you are craving some amazing BBQ! read more
4 years ago
Stopped by here for some BBQ that I seen on another review. Well it WOULD be nice to have FLY ZAPPERS! There was TONS of them! Yes, I get it..there's food and it's in the "wilderness" but come on, buy a few fly zappers and attempt to limit them! And then there's the $5 charge for any and everything! Only plus side was the pulled pork was good but for $30 for 1 meat and 2 side wasn't worth it. read more
"Dad was in the back at the barbecue. A gas grill now, thank goodness, so Dad could stop loading on the lighter fluid with a hose. He wore a chef's hat somewhat taller than a control tower and an apron that read REFORMED VEGETARIAN."―Harlan Coben, One False Move A virtual oasis in the dessert that is Big Sur. The Big Sur Smokehouse is located right-off Highway 1 and housed in a restored property that dates back to 1867. It can be real easy to miss but keep an eye-out for the little red building. Here's a G,M&U: The Good: -All the meat we sampled fucking LEGIT BBQ and was all-around fantastic. I might even say some of the best Q I've had in Cali! The Brisket and chicken were both expertly smoked, juicy and delicious. The links were also quite tasty but didn't appear to be housemade? However, I could be wrong. -Collard greens were also friggin' delicious and super-legit. -Great selection of local craft brews on-tap and even housemade sodas. The Meh: -House pickles, while a nice touch, were kinda funky and sour. Which is sad because I love pickles but these were just odd. -House BBQ sauces all had good concepts but the execution kinda lacked. None of the flavors stood-out to us but honestly with Q'd meat this good you don't really need sauce. -Service was a bit gruff and could've been friendlier overall. The Ugly: -The BBQ beans were crunchy. Seriously. WTF is up with crunchy, under-cooked beans at BBQ places? How does that even happen?! It's really a shame too because the flavor of the sauce they were in was outstanding. So much wasted potential... -Mac and cheese was awful, as well. The mac was cooked to death that you could've sucked it thru a straw. -The prices are borderline ridiculous but that's to be expected when you're in the middle of nowhere. But $10 for a tiny cup of beer is literal highway robbery... -For the price they could up the portion sizes a touch, so at least one doesn't feel completely ripped-off. Despite the highway robbery the food was legit fantastic and I will most likely be back when we're hiking in the area. Highly recommended but get ready to take it in the wallet. read more
Pre-Covid Review: A hidden gem in Big Sur! I was honestly only looking for a decent quick bite as I was doing some hiking and sightseeing in the area, so I had low expectations, but this turned out to be a great spot. First off, a good amount of easy parking behind the place, which they also have a good, clean outhouse restroom at the lot. We came here for lunch and it wasn't overly packed. The nice thing is that you can pick and choose your meats to go with a variety of sides, so there's something for everyone. I did not regret my pulled pork choice, and it was also cool that they have some unique sauce options that you can try. The sauces are up to you to add, like I enjoyed the coffee-stout BBQ sauce I had with my pork. read more
It's amazing that Ventana Big Sur now includes the Smokehouse as part of their all inclusive package. Everything except alcohol is free! As a result we tried every single meat as well as every side and dessert. And every sauce. They make everything in house. My preferences were; 1. Brisket (fatty and smoky, lots of flavor) 2. Spicy sausage (thick, juicy) 3. Beer can chicken (very juicy and flavorful) 4. St. Louis Ribs (a bit dry, not fall off the bone like in Texas) 5. Pulled pork 6. Tri-tip (dry and lean) 7. Jalapeño cheese sausage (I don't eat cheese hence last on my list) My friend's preferences were (if I remember correctly): 1. Pulled pork 2. Brisket 3. Jalapeño cheese sausage 4. Spicy sausage 5. Chicken 6. Ribs 7. Tri-tip In my group of 8 people it was clear that brisket and sausages were the winner since there was the least of these left. Nobody really liked the tri-tip. We also all LOVED the gem salad, which came with tri-tip but you can swap with another meat. As for the sides, people didn't talk about it much since they were all focused on the meat, but based on the leftovers I took home, I only had beans and soup left. And nobody touched the Hawaiian rolls. People liked all the sauces with bbq and mustard being the top favorites. The seasonal cobbler was a hit, didn't get to take any home. The bread pudding was well-liked but I did have to take some home. La Colombe coffee cans are highly recommended. Giving 5 stars due to value but if I had to pay out of pocket, it's a bit expensive for the quality so probably 4 stars. The salads would be the best value I think since they also include meat. read more
5 years ago
Stopped for food while driving through big sur. We were very confused by where this was located because our gps kept taking us down to the campground and then up the hill to a parking lot. I was disappointed by how fatty the brisket was, personally I don't like that. Overall the Mac and cheese and their meats (ordered brisket and pulled pork) were very peppery and well seasoned. I could see how some would say it was overly seasoned - mainly based on peoples preferences. read more
5 years ago
The meat is okay, nothing really special. I came here on Friday night for late dinner around 7PM and it is empty. I order 2 meat plate with extra spicy sausage and brisket. The spicy sausage was spicy and okay. The brisket was tender and fatty but too much fat on it. I felt like half of it was meat and the other is beef fat which if you don't want to increase your cholesterol then you shouldn't eat the fat. The tri-tip was a little dry. Each meat plate is $30 with a meat choice and 2 side. We choose the squash soup, the potatoes salad, coleslaw and pickle something. I believed all the side dishes was okay. There are 3 sauces choice and we choose all three. Overall, I would stop by if I am in a Big Sur for BBQ. But don't expect anything extraordinary as services was okay. read more
4 years ago
Stayed at Ventana and this was one of the meal options. Its located at the bottom of Ventana which can be reached by a short golf cart ride or a steady inclined walk. We arrived right when it opened and there was already a line out the door. We opted for the brisket and the pulled pork with coleslaw, potato salad, mac & cheese, and blueberry crumble. Since we were guests of Ventana we were able to order off the menu but if we were not staying here I'm not sure if I would stop by. The meal itself would have been close to $100 if we had to pay which was not worth it based on the portion size. The brisket was probably the best dish as it had a ton of flavor. read more
Came here because 1. We were staying at Ventana and it is at the base of the resort and 2. it has a dog friendly patio. Husband got the brisket platter with mac and cheese, beans. I had the pulled pork with potato salad and cole slaw. The food was hit or miss since the cole slaw/beans were tasty but the mac and cheese was lackluster and the potato salad was bland (how can mac and cheese be so boring?). The highlight of the lunch, brisket and pulled pork were both dry and just ok. Really disappointed with the meat since we expected really juicy, flavorful brisket from the reviews. What saved our lunch were the pickled onion/pickles and Hawaiian rolls. We made our own little sandwiches with lots of bbq sauce slathered on, and that made it pretty good. Portions are generous, lunch platter is plenty for one person. Restaurant is very clean and the staff was friendly. Overall, I'd come back for the convenience if I was staying at Ventana, but for us, it isn't a must stop destination otherwise. read more
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Justin K.
Hi Susan,…
I hate to post negative reviews, but I had a terrible experience when I visited this establishment. I ordered two meat plates which were $30 each and come with 1 meat, 2 sides and 2 rolls. I also ordered some bread pudding which was $8 and a few cokes which I have no idea what they charge for but the total for a meal for 2 was over $80. The person I was with liked their ribs and literally nothing else on their plate. That was a far better experience than me however because they served me chicken was super undercooked. There was so much pink inside Barbie could have decorated her Malibu dream house with it. In all honesty, I ordered the chicken to feed to my dog but I am glad I checked it first because raw chicken can be really dangerous. Can you imagine if I fed that to a child that was dining with me? Absolutely unacceptable. Also, the portion size of the meat was ridiculous. I am 300lbs and no one could eat that much meat in a sitting... however the sides were small and yet super bland. My potato salad was hard; it was clear the potatoes were undercooked and the dressing was terrible. The macaroni for mac & cheese were these strange spirals that mushed into dough clumps in your mouth when you ate it and it was served cold. With the exception of the ribs, we literally took a small bite of everything (except the chicken) and left it all on the tray. The whole experience was very unappetizing and we had already left by the time we realized they never even gave us our bread pudding so I can't speak to that but I would not recommend dining here under any circumstances. read more
1 star for being able to get cell reception here, and 1 star for ok portion sizes if you order meat a la carte, and I'm being generous here. I did not have high expectations for this place given that they are one of the few food options available in the area, but it was a disaster from the start. Upon walking in, I asked what the pricing on meat a la carte was and I got an eye roll from one of the employees. Bizarre, given that this is a standard practice at most BBQ places... Once we actually got our food, I will say that the portion sizes were decent. That said, they screwed up our order by giving us pulled pork instead of tri-tip, the pulled pork and brisket were all super dry, and the collard greens were sour to the point of being inedible. The ribs were the only serviceable item on the plate. Would not recommend. read more
As this is my 100th review, I'm so glad I can dedicate it to Big Sur Smokehouse!!! From start to finish, I would like to assert this has been one of the best dining experiences I have ever had in the history of my Yelping! After a long day of hiking and laying by the beach, a friend and I stopped into this smokehouse. A nice man behind the counter offered us samples of the meat and sides to help us figure out what we wanted. How accommodating and thoughtful! He sold me on the collard greens which I would have otherwise not ordered, as well as the Mac and cheese and pulled pork. We got a couple beers and our platters and sat on the outside patio and proceeded to dig in. All I can say is--wow. It's simply some of the best BBQ I've ever had. I especially loved the pickles and Hawaiian sweet bread along with it. It was all so full of flavor and perfect proportions. Turns out the man who offered us samples in the beginning is the manager/co-owner of the entire smokehouse! He sat down with us as we finished our meals and comped us a couple beers and told us how he started out. It was so wonderful hearing his story. He was a kind man and I'm so happy we met him personally and could support his budding business. I wish the very best to Big Sur smokehouse. They deserve it. read more
Looking for BBQ south of Carmel and Monterey, come check out BIg Sur Smokehouse. The Big Sur Smokehouse great BBQ. The Brisket and chicken combo I got was delicious and hot and he sides that came with it was great and I really couldn't finish it all. I had to package it up for noshing on it later. They have specialty BBQ sauce that is on the community table. I recommend getting a roll of paper towels, you'll need it. They have a few beers on draft (just ask for the daily selection) and bottled beer and wine in the refrigerated units, as well as soda and waters.. The outside patio is nice and views of Highway 1. Picnic style benches and small tables create a nice ambiance. As of March 19, 2020, they are closed pending the current CoronaVirus outbreak. So, hopefully, they will return to their full glory in the coming months and it is worth checking out. read more
5 years ago
Big Sur Smokehouse was our lunch stop on a recent day trip to Big Sur. The restaurant still looks "sparkling brand new" ... it has only been open a few weeks. I picked Big Sur Smokehouse because the menu was appealing and the prices surprisingly reasonable for BBQ. I also figured that since it was relatively new that it would not be as busy as a "must stop" like the restaurant at Nepenthe. And finally, I checked the Yelp reviews and liked what I read. We stood in line to order our meal longer than I would have liked. A party of six or seven (including children) was right ahead of us. It took them a very long time to decide what to order ... and then they kept adding on to their order. But perhaps with good reason: the sides all sounded good. DH and I both opted for the pulled pork which was a reasonable $16 for the meat and two sides. (In contrast the pulled pork sandwich with one side was $14.) I found the meat was tasty, but DH felt his order was on the dry side. We both ordered the chili cole slaw which had a little "kick" to it. I found it decent, but not what I would call outstanding. My burnt end baked beans were some of the best ever. A pleasant surprise. They looked quite ordinary, but the flavor was on the sweet side and all around flavorful. The strangest side, which both DH and I ordered, was the potato salad. Small round potatoes which had been cut in half and then covered with an aioli dressing (?). (Other options for sides are braised collard greens and baked mac & cheese. Something for everyone!) Rounding out our trays were two Hawaiian rolls and housemade pickles. We both had beers. I first ordered the Bonny Doon Picpoul, but the guy behind the counter was kind enough to point out it was a sparkling red! That was not noted on the menu. Easy decision to switch to a Stella Artois. (Other draft choices included Alvarado St. Brewery Pilsner, Offshoot Hazy IPA, and English Ales Black Prince Porter.) The four drafts were all $10. Seemed a bit pricey to me. The three draft wines were also $10 -- and beers are typically less than wine. Patio dining was perfect for our table of three. Even with many other options in the area, I would not hesitate to stop at Big Sur Smokehouse again. read more
5 years ago
This place was much better than expected. It reminded me of some bbq places in SF, which I know isn't saying much to a connoisseur, but we liked it all the same. The brisket was our favorite along with the collard greens that were mostly bacon. Very friendly staff, though the food did take awhile. read more
Great everything. Some of the sides were not our favorite (I'm looking at you corn bean whatever that was). But the bbq itself was great, and customer service was top tier. Very friendly, helpful, and accommodating staff. Overpriced, but most bbq is anyway, and what can you expect in this type of location. Great meal overall. read more
6 years ago
Incredible smokehouse and the staff is so friendly! It was so hard to choose from the menu because everything smelled and looked amazing. I had the chicken salad and it was a big serving. It had a beautifully smoky flavor that wasn't overpowering. I would definitely recommend this to people visiting Big Sur. It's right near Ventana and the Ventana campground. So if you don't want to cook for a meal, this is a great option! read more
5 years ago
On our not planned trip to Big Sur wasn't sure where to eat. We decided to stop here because it did not look crowded and they had outdoor sitting. the aesthetics is what caught our attention. -i know- We had the BBQ ribs half rack and mac n cheese sides. Which we thought was good enough for 2 people to eat. I would have liked the ribs a little more well done. just my preference. it did have the smoked flavor to them which was good and the dipping Bbq sauce on the side which was great to my liking instead of having it on the ribs already. mac n cheese could have been a little more warm. Also this was the only place that gave us cell phone service in the area which was great!! read more
7 years ago
Driving along, and we see everyone sitting outside, looks good, let's stop! It was not. Service was terrible, rude. We asked for the brisket, they reply 'don't got it.' We ask for a recommendation they said 'ugh I don't know what you want' ?? Ok.... so we get the pulled pork platter w/ some extra sides because I don't eat meat. I JUST saw someone served their sides, and they were heaping but when I was served it wasn't filled at all..I just felt weird w/ the staff. They were so blatantly unwelcoming towards us. Pulled pork was fine, (needs sauce) collard greens pretty good, coke slaw fine, the "baked" macaroni and cheese was awful. We didn't finish it, it tasted worse than Kraft and is certainly not baked. Tastes like starch water. The interior is very cute, nice outdoor seating (but full of flies) some fans would help a lot. The service, prices and food together bring it down to 2 stars read more
5 years ago
Worth it! The brisket is fork tender and flavorful. The burnt end baked beans were also amazing. Not mushy, soft, had structure and a little bite. The spicy chili cole slaw is on point - crisp, fresh cabbage, light mayo with chili sauce and seasoned well. The pickled onions have a bite to them (lots of vinegar?) and the bread and butter pickles are delightful and cut through the richness of the brisket and sauces. Go visit! Also extremely friendly and helpful service read more
7 years ago
Amazing bbq! Chefs/grill masters Juwan & Mike, you guys are bbq masters! The creativity and passion for your food shines through! The best beef rib and burger I have EVER HAD! The beans, the smokiness and meaty flavor was amazing. The tender beef brisket had such insane flavor, I'm amazed that the only seasoning was salt and pepper, which goes to show the love and tenderness you guys took to prepare this The flavor of this amazing meal is still lingering like a party in my palate thank you, thank you, thank you! We will be back! read more
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Justin K.
Hi Sheryl,…
4 years ago
Briskets are unacceptable. Sausage tastes like fillers. The briskets are too thick and not tender at all. My fork broke while I was trying to eat it. Tastes like a block or thick fat. Jalapeño sausage does not taste like 100% meat, but the texture is similar to some kind of filler. Costco hotdog is wayyyyyyy better. There is a bee and fly situation in the outdoor dining area and we had to leave. And the cashier wasn't happy when I asked for a togo box. Not sure why. Very very disgusting and waste of money. read more
7 years ago
Love the location and they have great sandwiches! Specialty sauces and beer! Definitely stop by if you can. Also conveniently close to a Tesla supercharger read more
5 years ago
Big Sur Smokehouse is the restaurant located at the entrance to the Alila Ventana Big Sur Resort, but to the best of my understanding they are not part of the resort. Unlike the Sur House Restaurant, the Big Sur Smokehouse is open to the public and we made a stop there recently for dinner. It's a quaint building and space, but also modern at the same time. As the name suggests, this is a BBQ smokehouse with smoked meats being the star of the show. The menu isn't very extensive, but it's written in a convoluted way that it does take time to decipher. Bottom line, you'll wind up ordering more and it'll cost more than you're expecting. Now that's not a bad thing, but just be aware that the price structure of the menu is set up so if you decide to share a plate and get multiple meats it'll cost you more than if you just each got individual orders. Our order of 3 meats came out to be over $70 which I feel is a little excessive for a BBQ establishment, but taking location into account I guess I can understand. The brisket was delicious and Smokey in flavor, but if you're not a fan of fatty meat you might be turned off by the fatty portions. The chicken is half a chicken so there is no choice between white or dark meat, but again the Smokey flavor was there. The real let down was the jalapeño cheese sausage which was so dry and chewy that it was inedible. In fact, one might mistake it for a vegan product if this place so those items, but overall that was the worst sausage I've ever tasted. I will give them credit that it looked like they smoke their meats on site, but there is no excuse for overcooked BBQ. Overall, Big Sur Smokehouse is a cool space located in a beautiful part of the California coastline. The picnic tables and outdoor seating is Covid era friendly and there's a decent amount of parking for the area. I would say it's a good change up if you're camping at Ventana put if you're staying at the resort I would not make the walk down that hill for the BBQ. read more
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More info about Big Sur Smokehouse
48123 Hwy One
Big Sur, CA 93920
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(831) 667-2419
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http://www.bigsursmokehouse.com
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Big Sur Smokehouse - bbq - Updated October 2026
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