Service friendly but very slow. Very loud restaurant w no noise reduction so be warned. Pulled chicken was chewy. Waited almost 45 mins for our food for 3 of us. read more

In town shopping for a new car and this place was recommended by the salesperson. My wife said, "It's pretty day, I wish we could find someplace we could sit outside and eat" She has this fantasy that she lives in Florida where you can eat outside all the time. She was ecstatic to notice this place has outdoor dining. Happy wife - happy life! So yes we ate there(here). Service was prompt and attentive. Very helpful waiter. She wanted the broasted chicken. I said what the heck? Who goes to a BBQ place and doesn't order BBQ. Let's leave! Well, perhaps i said it more politely than that. I'm no fool. But we both decided to eat BBQ Pork sandwiches. They came with fries and a bit of coleslaw for you Carolina people who love to pollute your pure BBQ flavor. Okay yeah... I put it on my sandwich too but that don't make it right. There were sauces on the table to use. Wife says the "hot" one... is really hot! Me? I stayed with original and sweet. The sandwiches were excellent. The fries weren't your average fries you get at a fast food joint. They were seasoned well and were perfect with the pork sandwich. As a side note we wanted the ribs but it was lunch time and we didn't want to spend a ton of money on ribs. We wanted to eat light. Lucky for us, it was 1:45 and at 2:00pm Happy Hour started and we could order individual single ribs. Yes, they made us wait. We finished our sandwiches and ordered at 2:01pm. By 2:15 my stomach told me i was full and I no longer wanted ribs.... but... we ordered them so they showed up a minute or so later..... and even though I was full.... man these ribs were amazing. We only got three of them and gosh, you could taste the smoke on them....They weren't fall off the bone tender which some people like but me? I prefer tender but enough to stay on the bone so i can gnaw them off with my teeth.... they were really good. I'll go back again... after 2;00PM..... and order some ribs as an appetizer to eat while i wait on my Broasted Chicken. read more

Road trip down to Iowa means we needed a lunch break, happened to find this jackpot of a BBQ spot in Rochester. @smoakbbqmn knows what they're doing with BBQ. Lunch was delish. We all ended up getting the same sandwich and mixed sides. We left thinking we may need to come back the same way and stop here again before the trip is over because wow. What we loved: Pulled Pork Sandwich (this was freaking perfect. The bun was amazing, meat was the perfect moisture, not greasy or fatty. 10/10) Sauce wise we liked the original and the K.C. Sweet sauce Favorite side was their potato salad Coleslaw was awesome Beans were good, meaty and pepper taste goin on Also note how adorable the kids menu tray and sides were! Awesome lunch to stop for on our trip. read more

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I was not ready to eat but I had to. My spouse chose Smoak from the Door Dash menu as we sat in our hotel room. I decided on a Caesar Salad and Bread Pudding (apparently a la mode) to split with my BFF. There salad was very large with the perfect amount of dressing but there did not seem to be anything special about the flavor of the cornbread croutons. Despite the fact that I happen to love bread pudding, I not only disliked it, could not even eat this one. There was a note in the menu that it had the flavor of seasonal fruit. Since it is winter in MN, maybe there was lemon juice in it? While, I didn't eat that, the ice cream tasted home spun. A very delicious vanilla - unusual! My spouse had gotten a pulled pork platter with French fries, cole slaw and cornbread muffins. I was assured that it was all delicious! And he proved it be eating far more at once than he ever usually does. This was all sent to us through Door Dash so it was fast! We did not have to do anything but go to the lobby of the hotel to pick it it up. read more

I was in Rochester over the holidays for business, and this was one of the few restaurants open, which I was genuinely thankful for. While I've definitely had better BBQ elsewhere, this place did the job and scratched the itch until I could get back home. I ended up coming here twice since it was conveniently down the road from the office. On my first visit, I ordered the mini sampler to try a bit of everything and was pleasantly surprised by the turkey. It was very tender and had good flavor - honestly the standout for me because it was totally unexpected. Because of that, I ordered the turkey sandwich on my second visit and really enjoyed it. Both times, I also got the wings (I can't help myself). Crispy skin, tender meat - exactly how I like them. I really liked the dry rub and appreciated how generously it was applied. I wasn't a fan of their BBQ sauce overall, but that's just personal preference. I ended up mixing everything except the mustard sauce and found that worked better for me. Service was a bit inconsistent. During my first visit, the waitress was very attentive. The second visit, not as much-- though to be fair, the service wasn't bad at all. Both times the restaurant wasn't even half full. Overall, it's a solid option, especially if you're in the area or need something reliable while traveling. I'd come back, particularly for the turkey and wings. read more

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Food was great, Burnt ends, I just don't know what to say We ate inside so service was excellent Plenty of seating in and out, kid zone and garage doors at the bar open to bring outside in Just don't sit under the vents in ceiling, blows so cold it cools your food read more

Smoak BBQ - Combo plate 2 meats - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

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Horrible service with little to no attention from the server! Went in and there were only 5 tables. Server checked on us once and we had to wait and get her attention for a box and the check. Never came back even though I kept looking at her. Had to end up getting up just so I can pay and leave! All she did was talk behind the bar. Food is not worth me going back. Broiled chicken was drenched in oil. I know it's fried but at least give it a little time for the excess oil to come out before serving. Patio dining is available and pull tabs are available to be purchased inside. Decor is simple and nice. Has options for booth or table seating. read more

We (6 family members) attended the Mothers Day Buffet and were very disappointed. The server clearly did not want to be there as displayed in his poor service. We had to inquire about the pancake and were finally told that they needed to be ordered through the server, who never mentioned that when we were seated. We ordered the pancakes for two grandkids and my wife and had to wait 30 minutes for them to be delivered, after inquiring twice about them. The brisket was sliced so thin and mostly fat it was almost inedible. We have dined there many times in the past but will have to reassess out decision for future events. I order the broasted chicken often. Yesterday's was very salty, overcooked and very dry. We learned our lesson!! read more

Smoak BBQ - Family Meal - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

I thought about simply updating my previous review but this was a new context. I've enjoyed brunch, now how would lunch fare? I confess, every visit to Rochester, I find a way to get some bbq. I really need to pay better attention! I wanted chicken wings but I got nuggies (boneless wings) instead. Nashville hot! Despite this grave error, I enjoyed what I got! In the Midwest I expect "hot" to really be "mild" but this did not disappoint. It was true to its name. This was still as good the next day, reheated. Stayed nice and crisp. As much as I wanted to have a variety meat plate, I love me some ribs so that had to be the only choice this time around. The half rack was accompanied by mac and cheese. The first few bites of ribs left a bit to be desired. While there was a good bark to it, there was also some bite. It felt a little dry and tough but this improved when getting into the more central pieces. The original bbq sauce paired very well - had some sweetness with a little bit of heat. The Texas hot was a bit much when combined with the Nashville hot wings (that one's on me ). Don't have much to say about the Mac and cheese. It's historically been hit or miss for me. This was a miss. Next time I'm around, gotta try the burnt ends. I hear that calling my name. read more

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Service was great right from the moment we walked in the door. This place was clean, good lighting (I don't like places that keep it dark), not too loud. The food was fantastic, glad we decided to try it for ourselves. We will surely be going back!!! read more

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We tried Smoak for the first time yesterday and it's now was my favorite place in Rochester! First, they have the best cocktails. I had the Going Guava and my husband had the Very Vanilla Old Fashioned. Both were divine. We also shared the brisket fries which were outstanding. The portion may have been a little small but was perfect for two. He also had the wings which were smoked and then grilled and wow did they have flavor! I had the Cobb Salad with Pulled Pork and I'll be dreaming of that salad for a long time! The most fun part is they are VERY dog friendly, complete with a Woof Menu! We are here periodically for Mayo but will always make a stop here! The service was fabulous. The outdoor patio is comfortable and fun. Great atmosphere and food! Well done, Smoak! read more

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Love the outdoor patio here. It's a nice place to enjoy some bbq and watch Sunday football. My boyfriend and I shared the combo bbq plate with brisket, half chicken, and jalapeño cheddar sausage with a side of fries and coleslaw. Sadly, the brisket was EXTREMELY underwhelming, esp for being an extra $5 charge. It was really dry and chewy, which was disappointing as this is supposed to be a bbq spot! On a brighter note, the sausage and coleslaw both had great flavor & the chicken was to die for. I never rave about chicken, so I was happily surprised when it turned out to be my favorite thing on the plate! It was moist & cooked to perfection. The skin was also seasoned nicely and wasn't chewy at all. I would come back here just for the chicken. read more

Friend said was unreal but when I finally went I thought it was pretty mid. Great service though.

Probably one of the better BBQs I've had in MN. We ordered the meat combo with ribs and brisket and the Nashville hot chicken sandwich. We also ordered a side of burnt ends. I don't know if I would get the fried chicken sandwich again, I thought it was okay, not my favorite chicken sandwich for that price point. However, the burnt ends and brisket were delicious! Great smoke and flavor, the ribs were a bit on the drier side which was fine because I wanted to try all their sauces. We ordered a side of brussel sprouts as well and those are a must get! This place is massive with lots seating options, and I can imagine it being a good time to come at night to have some drinks with friends in the summer with their patio and outdoor games outside. Service was quick and friendly. Overall, if you're in Rochester and are craving some bbq, definitely recommend coming here! read more

The food was outstanding. My dad and I split a rack of St Lois ribs that comes with a large side of yummy coleslaw! I added a side salad and it was a nice mix of veggies, croutons etc. He opted for the potato salad. The potato's were just not to the firmness that we like for potato salad. They were a bit mushy, but that is the only thing I can rate as questionable. I can't stress enough how good those ribs were. Moist, fall off the bone and so tender. We loved the sweet bbq sauce on the side. Our waitress was also very good. She was prompt and engaging and very pleasant. They have a lot of seating/tables. Inside and out. It was a bit noisy for my 84 year old dad that is hard of hearing. But we would both go back in a heartbeat! read more

Stopped in here on a trip. Great ambiance, friendly staff. Food was wonderful. Would go back there again. read more

Smoak BBQ - Two meat platter with Cole slaw and special of sweet potato mash. - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

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Food was great; tasty, well presented. Service was outstanding. That being said, they lost a star because it was a tad pricey.

Went to Smoak heard great things about it and it was VERY disappointing. The service with Nicole was sparce. The food was cold and undesirable. There were only about 10 people in the restaurant while we were there. I would NOT recommend this place. 65. that we ended up giving to the neighbors dogs. How SAD!!!! read more

Take a Nap Wrap. First thing I saw on the menu and it sounded so good! Well....it lacked flavor! The Mac and cheese that was in the wrap looked like kraft cheese shells. I mean nothing had flavor. The chicken was just hot. Hot and flavorless. The really nice waiter gave me some sauce to cut the heat. Not only did it cut the heat, it gave the wrap flavor. I still could have done without the wrap. The bathrooms were very clean and like I said, our waiter was nice. Everyone else said they liked their meal. My husband had meatloaf. That was the special. He said it was OK. read more

Smoak BBQ - Take a Nap Wrap - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

On my way back from Niagara Cave (separate review but it's amazing and you should go!) decided to try this local BBQ spot. The atmosphere here is relaxed. You could bring your family here, date or group of friends! There is a cool patio out front that you can play bags/corn hole! I opted to get my food to go! The online ordering was fast and easy! My order was completed correctly! And the gentleman who got my food handed me my bag with a smile :) Ok the most important part, the food! -The burnt ends with slaw. The slaw was average but did have a good texture! The burnt ends had a great flavor and were tender! I'd love to see these served on a piece of thick white bread! -The corn bread with honey butter... that's gonna be a no from me. The bread was dry and had a weird taste to it.. -The mashed potato's were the good fresh ones that have some lumps and skins! Tasty!! The Mac and cheese was creamy and delicious! -The ribs were seasoned well and a bit smoky. The meat mostly fell off the bone. The shredded pork had no flavor... where's the smokey flavor?? The texture is perfect! It just melts! Dip this in their BBQ sauce and it's delicious but it should be able to hold its own! The chicken fell off the bone and had decent flavoring. The Brisket was fatty but seasoned well and tasted good! The blueberry cheesecake... where is the blueberry flavor?? Would not recommend. The turtle tres leches was good but not soaked/moist enough to call it tres leches! Still delicious though, I would get that again! They had 4 different sauces and all of them were pretty sweet but tasted good! Overall this BBQ was just average to me. Not enough Smokey flavor in the meats. I would put these guys on the same playing field as Famous Dave's except this place has tender meats and famous Dave's has better corn bread! read more

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Been here twice, once for takeout and once for dining in. Both times were great! Server had some good recommendations, and I was impressed how good their smoked turkey is. My daughter loved the ribs. read more

Ordered take out and got a pulled pork dish. I ordered fries and biscuits as the sides with the Kansas City sauce. Doesn't look like a lot of meat but after eating some fries, I could see there was more under there. The meat was good and the fries were a little soggy. Not sure it was because they were sitting for a while. Jt biscuits were good, similar to McDonald's breakfast biscuits but much softer and bigger. My order didn't come with utensils or napkins which is fine since I was eating back at home but if it was someone else who didn't have these things, it would have been inconvenient. read more

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I think they have a great choice of things to eat. We ordered the pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries and then we ordered the 4 meats and some sides. We really liked the Brussels sprouts the Mac& cheese was just ok. The onion rings were only ok. The corn bread muffins were like cheap box muffins . The brisket ribs chicken and jalapeños sausage was good in taste but was cold. No juicy hot fresh bbq. Are server was ok asked how it was but just ok. read more

Service was great! Food was great and fast. We had the Ribs, Brisket, Chicken and Sausage along with Baked Beans. It was all cooked to perfection! Nothing was dry! Beer was cold and all the sport tv's were working. Very clean establishment. I highly recommend on giving it a try! Wish the weather was better so we could have enjoyed the outside area as well. Over all this place was the bomb!! Price was very reasonable as well along with great proportions. read more

Smoak BBQ - BBQ bar & grill - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

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We had breakfast at Smoak this morning and it was very disappointing. My husband ordered the chicken fried steak and it wasn't even edible. Not only was the toast burned, but the steak was burned black all the way through. I'm shocked that the cook even put it on the plate and that the waiter brought it to the table. When it was brought to his attention, he acted like we were lying. As if you couldn't see what it looked like. Apparently they thought we wouldn't notice once it was covered with gravy. My husband was given a new meal, but by the time it arrived the rest of were almost finished. read more

Really good food at decent prices with a good atmosphere. We really enjoy going there for a last-minute kind of meal after a long day of playing. read more

Great atmosphere. Love the corn hole area! We ordered a bit of everything. Nachos & corn bread appetizers. Both great, but the corn bread won the vote of the table. Wife has the Cuban sandwich, she loved it, the pepper jack cheese had a little kick. Daughter had the Hawaiian burger that she couldn't finish but liked the caramelized pineapple. My son and I both got a 3 meat combo 1. Pulled pork, pulled chicken, and Sausage... w/ beans 2. Ribs, pulled pork and 1/2 chicken w/chili. Everything was great. Chick was tender, ribs were fall off the bone, pulled pork & chicken great with original bbq sauce and the chili was more meat than beans. We will definitely be back! read more

Yum!!!! Fall off the bone meats!! Tangy, sweet and spicy sauces, good drinks and cheesy brisket fries!! What more could I ask for? Outside you can play giant Jenga and corn hope. Lots of seating out there too! Great spot to hang out read more

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The biggest downside to our experience was that there was to much really good food!! The service was good, but it was a slightly light time due to one heck of a storm outside. Anyway, check my photo and head over there. read more

Smoak BBQ - A really good dinner! - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

There were 7 of us. The waiter was super efficient and very friendly. The food was delicious. I had the pulled pork sandwich which had a LOT of meat on it. We all got different meals and no one was disappointed. Would go there again. read more

My wife and I took my son who was visiting from Colorado and a friend from the area over Thanksgiving for our first visit. We were greatly disappointed in every respect. I'm not sure what the owners intended. The ambience was like a hollowed dark barn with neon lights and poor attempt at a "down home" saloon. The food was served on rustic tables with industrial trays. There was nothing welcoming or appealing about the ambience, IMO, and the food was average and overpriced. There are far better options in RST for this type of food. Save your money. 1.5 stars max. read more

Smoak BBQ is the best in Rochester and takes me back to Texas. I don't know what I would do to satisfy my southern BBQ cravings if they were gone. Their burnt ends and brisket are definitely the highlight. Their other meats and their burgers are not to be underestimated. Everything has been super satisfying. read more

Smoak BBQ - Brisket is fatty, tender and seems to get better and better every time I visit. - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

All things considered I thought Smoak BBQ made decent BBQ. The brisket was very soft and well cooked albeit under seasoned. The Nashville chicken strips were great and had a good kick to them. For Minnesota, good BBQ read more

Smoak is really good considering where we are - roughly 1000 miles north from Dallas, Texas. I have had pretty legit bbq in the south (Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Atlanta) and this one is comparable at least relative to others in MN/Midwest. Smoak has an abundance of staples from brisket, pulled pork, and delicious sides (e.g., pickles). It is super fun during the nicer weather times so you can grab a seat in the outdoor patio. The meat can be a little salty at times but I think one thing would be if there were some bread to go along with the dishes. That is a common pairing in the south. Prices are more on the mid-high side but there are gift cards available at Costco if you wanted to get some bargain. We will be back when the weather gets better / have a sudden crave for some bbq read more

Smoak BBQ - Beef Brisket, Pulled Pork, Chili, Mac & Cheese, Fries - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Very attentive service. Brisket was tasty. I enjoyed the Texas Twinkies. Good vibe. Will return.

By far the Best Brisket in Minnesota!! We tried the Brisket BBQ Plate and it was exceptional! The service was wonderful and we enjoyed the fun atmosphere on the patio. I will definitely be returning to enjoy Minnesota's Best Brisket again! read more

How is this place only rated a 3.8 star? It's soo good. Highly recommend for delicious BBQ food. Our family all thought this place was so good and as far as restaurants in Rochester goes, it is one to keep on the list. We really didn't have anything that was not absolutely delicious. The BBQ sauces are all very nice additions to the meals. I would highly recommend, and hope to return. read more

Delicious breakfast thanks to Smaok! I love their breakfast potatoes and eggs and the pulled pork is amazing too! My husband had the skillet and it was amazing too! I'd highly recommend a mom-mosa(mimosa with peach schnapps) absolutely amazing! Booth was cozy and good for larger folks too! There is a nice patio and they have an amazing outdoor game area. Attentive service and a great atmosphere. Bathrooms were sparkling clean and well kept. read more

Food was wonderful. Service was decent but it was also busy when we came. The ambiance was very welcoming the waiters were very polite. Highly recommend coming to Smoak BBQ! read more

My husband and I ate here around 8:30PM on a Friday night. We were surprised that it wasn't packed at all. We ordered drinks (great), full rack of ribs which came with 2 sides (great), and 2 happy hour apps (great). The ambiance was nice with outdoor patio and cornhole games. Service was fast! Overall, I think this place is better than John Hardy's BBQ. I definitely recommend. read more

Smoak BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota