Robbie's Smokehouse is a fun place to go if you like BBQ and all american style eats. I heard some great things about their burgers and large portions so I was really excited to come here last Saturday.
We were a group a of 4 and arrived around 5:30pm. The place was already packed, although it has 2 floors I think the upper floor is only used for special events. We were told it could be a 45 min wait but luckily the manager later helped us get a table within minutes. This seems to be a very popular place in town so if you are coming on a weekend make sure to reserve.
Robbie's looks like a modern steakhouse/sports bar. There's a big bar in the middle of the restaurant with lots of stool seating and the rest of the tables include some really comfortable sofa type chairs. They have a cool Facebook "likes" counter on the wall that spins in real time whenever someone likes their Facebook page which I thought was a good way to promote themselves. There's a big American flag painting on another wall which is a nice ode to traditional American bbq eats.
Our group sampled the steak nachos (gigantic whopping portion that easily serves a meal, not an appetizer), the meat platters which has a mix of brisket, pulled pork, chicken and ribs, along with the mac and cheese and standard sides like fries, coleslaw, mashed potatoes.
The chicken and meats were really tender and juicy however we found that the ribs kind of taste like regular smoked ham which was kind of disappointing. The steak nachos were delicious, the portion was huge and there was enough nacho cheese for each bite which is amazing because restaurants often lack toppings but this was overwhelmingly awesome. The only drawback was the extra charge for sour cream, whether you want some for your $20 nachos or for your baked potato, this sets you back an extra $1.75.
I've dined in so many other steakhouses and restaurants that do not charge for this extra so I find that a little cheap for Robbie's.
Further, there are no free refills on fountain sodas and certain items like the mac and cheese or sides were quite small. For example the coleslaw came in a tiny plastic cup that was enough for 3 or 4 bites only. Cabbage is something that really doesn't cost much, I think if they're going to serve my meal in a huge fancy square plate, they should have made more of an effort to fill it.
For a restaurant that constantly advertises themselves on Facebook with a slogan of "GO BIG OR GO HOME", I was expecting larger portions but the only large plate was the nachos. Main meals were average sized and fairly priced considering there are no taxes but this is in no way comparable to the portion or service you'd get in the states if you were hoping for American dining.
If you enjoy a massive food challenge, they do offer a giant burger, fries and pitcher of beer deal for around $120 dollars- if you're able to finish it, it's free.
Although the regular portions are not as gigantic as they made it seem, the food was still excellent, I enjoyed every item I ordered and I would consider coming back for their Sunday all-you-can-eat brunch or just to try their deluxe burgers. The menu was extensive and very appetizing.
Bonus, lots, lots of free parking and free wifi. read more