I actually am so shocked this place isn't rated higher. We ordered pickup tonight because I needed ribs. The ribs were incredible. Could've been a little saucier but I know to ask for extra sauce on the side next time! The sides were lovely as well, the Mac and cheese was light and fluffy & the baked beans were so tasty. My husband did the pick up and said it looked fun in there, with the World Cup on. We will definitely be back! read more

Tasty Barbecue Combo Platter! Earlier this month had taste for barbecue. I ordered the (3) meat combo platter (1/4 rib rack, pulled pork & chicken) w/sides: coleslaw & a roll. Also ordered cornbread & peach cobbler. All meats flavorful deliciously smoky. The peach cobbler sweet, tender peaches. The cobbler top a bit heavier than expected. Otherwise generous portions. See Photos. read more

Smoke BBQ - Peach Cobbler & Cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

First time customer...All shade wtf is this ? I coulda just got all brisket. Mac too greasy but unique,bread bussin keep doin that but whatever yall got on top of the deviled eggs should be optional tbh or just regular. Overall 8/10 don't ruin my day like this again tho:) read more

Smoke BBQ - 2 1/4 Rib & One Meat - Barbeque Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

We had Smoke cater a graduation dinner in our home this evening. Everything was done to perfection. We got an assortment of meats - brisket, pulled pork, and pulled chicken - plus barbecue tofu. Our sides were mac & cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, and cornbread. Every guest complimented the food and wanted to know more about Smoke, not knowing that it has been in Bethesda so long. Wonderful experience all around. We've eaten in the restaurant and had carryout many times and have always had a great experience. That continued through tonight's catered dinner. read more

Ribs delivered tonight were total shoe leather. $80 bucks down the drain. probably cooked a couple days ago.

This place is great. The food is one of the best BBQ places around The owners and staff are amazing. It's a great place to have some drinks and chat with people or watch a game or two. read more

Upfront I did not have any food here. I stopped in for happy hour on Sunday which am glad they offered! The staff was super friendly and had a great community feel. Everyone was very welcoming and enjoyed having some drinks here. Also very generous wine pours :) read more

See all

Did a pick up and service was great but not the best BBQ. Looks like a great spot for drinks as they have a full bar and a few tables and chairs. Probably not the best person to review as I'm not a huge BBQ fan but it was the majority consensus for the night. We did all agree that we have had better. read more

Very disappointing! Should've read the signs and reviews lol. First off, the lady was very rude and not welcoming at all upon entering the restaurant. We asked questions about the menu and she wasn't very helpful at all. We ordered a Brisket and Sausage Combo Plate I believe and it came out to over $30 for everything. My boyfriend and I shared the plate because we weren't too hungry but still, when the food came out, we were so disappointed. Not only were the portions super small but it just looked so dry and unappetizing. You definitely need to pair it with a lot of sauce to really enjoy it. We were never checked on either. Service was terrible. Wouldn't come back here. read more

Smoke BBQ - Two Meat Combo - Barbeque Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Cost was way too high for a half rack of baby back ribs. I thought I was getting a Full sized rib for the cost. And the Mac n cheese was edible but not great. Now I will admit the cobbler was good (not great) and the tiramisu was good. For I ended up paying $55 for the value of $30 and $30 is generous read more

I had big expectations for some barbecue this Memorial Day holiday, so we wanted to try something new. Smoke BBQ came up on several searches when I looked for good barbecue in the DMV. We had already tried most of the places listed, so we decided to try them. The portions of the side dishes (mac and cheese, collard greens) were small, and the meats (ribs, pulled pork, brisket) were not as flavorful as I thought they would be. Overall, it was edible but needed added flavor. read more

dropped $62 got $20 of food. The "sides" literally come in sauce containers which are smaller than Michelin star dishes. The meat was FINE but nothing to write home about. The sauces are uninspired and I wouldn't be surprised if they were from Harris Teeter's. This place is a bar disguised as a bbq joint don't bother for these prices read more

My advice is to STAY AWAY. This food was so disgusting that it doesn't even deserve to be called food. The sausage tasted like a fast food hotdog, the Turkey tasted worse than an airplane meal, everything was bland and flavorless, and the BBQ sauce tasted like drain cleaner. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this has to be to worst food I've ever ordered in my entire life. read more

Smoke BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

A decent BBQ option in Bethesda. Lots of craft beers to choose from and a varied menu. Be aware that you order at the counter then go have a seat. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich along with some appetizers. Mozzarella sticks were very good, mac and cheese was decent and the pulled pork didn't disappoint. If you're used to more authentic BBQ you probably won't be a fan. read more

I will echo what others have said: This place is surprisingly mediocre given that it is essentially specializing only in one limited type of cuisine. I think some of the other reviews are exaggerated, though. My barbecued lamb was quite tasty, and I had previously never eaten lamb that was barbecued in this fashion. What really needed improvement were the barbecue sauces. Frankly, they were among the blandest I have ever had, way too heavy on ketchupy notes. I think it is fair to say that most barbecue sauces on the shelf of a traditional grocery store are better than the homemade ones at this restaurant. They might as well just offer some of those well-known brands instead of offering their own. read more

We stumbled on to this place the other day. What a gem! We had about sixty minutes before an important meeting and found just the place. There were only four other guys in the place and Jimmy was relaxed in serving us. It was about two past meridiem. The phone on the outside wall prolly doesn't get much use as the North Electric Bakelite Handset type was broken. The platter consisted of Cole Slaw, Baked Beans (both great!), Corn Bread, Pulled Pork and Brisket. A roll of Paper Towels served as Napkins. Dr. Pepper was there, he was on ice. read more

See all

A decent lunch spot in downtown Bethesda. The usual meat ootiona are on the menu here. As are a good selection of beers. They have a variety of unusual sodas available on their fountain. The bowls are a great alternative to traditional BBQ formats! read more

Take a look below at the smokehouse chili I received Friday night. Barely 50% filled. I have never seen such blatant disregard for the intelligence of customers at any restaurant in the DC/MD area as SmokeBBQ in Bethesdsa. They think they can fool their customers with these tiny, half filled portions but it's such an obvious scam. They don't do this when you order through them or pick up yourself, only the UberEats orders which, if you feel like calling to complain, they will either deny or blame on the driver. They refuse to ever accept responsibility for their mistakes or minuscule portions. Shadiest restaurant in Bethesda. read more

Smoke BBQ - Smokehouse chili that I received on my UberEats order Friday evening. Barely 50% filled. Absolute scam. - Barbeque Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I generally try to find something positive about a review even if it's overall negative. I can't really find one for this place. I ordered the two item combo with a side of mashed potatoes and cornbread. The two meats I chose was brisket and chicken. The meat was awful. I can almost guarantee the meat was heated in a microwave. The brisket was bland, dry and over cooked. The chicken was also dry and chewy and lacked flavor. The coleslaw looked aged and wilted. It lacked any flavor and overall inedible. The "cornbread" we paid extra for was just a dry white roll and didn't come with any butter. The mashed potatoes and scalloped potatoes (ordered by a friend) were also cooked by microwave - evident by the way the cheese was melted on top in plastic containers. The mashed potatoes were very buttery and tasted almost like instant potatoes. My friend ordered a sandwich that looked squashed and was prepared carelessly. He also stated it lacked any flavor. His French fries were also chewy and extremely greasy. Absolutely one of the worst BBQ restaurants I have been to. I would have been better off heating a frozen BBQ dinner as it would have been tastier and more fresh then what was served here. Absolute pass for all those who know what BBQ truly is. read more

See all

I first came to this restaurant during a business meeting 2 years ago and at best, the food was so-so. So I am back in the area and I thought I would pay another visit. Well... I can say that it was an interesting outing. To sum my visit up, imagine eating bbq so dry that you start choking and coughing. My wife order a 1/4 rack of bbq ribs and onion rings. The ribs were so dry that even water couldn't stop her from coughing and choking for a few minutes. Now, some of you may be wondering if they came with bbq sauce and the answer is no, due to my wife being pre-diabetic. So, even without a sauce, the ribs should have been moist, juicy and edible. Sorry to say, that wasn't the case. The onion rings were pretty good. I ordered the smoked chicken wings and collard greens. This is the exact meal that I have 2 years ago. The wings were dry but not unbearable. They were of a nice size but they were still dry. The collard greens weren't bad. Overall, this meal was probably as good as it gets at this place. The person that took our order appeared to be more focused on her personal conversation with another employee than on our order. This is my last visit to this restaurant. read more

The barbecue sauce is very ketchup-y. There are two options, spicy and sweet. The sweet bbq was essentially ketchup with a different consistency in my opinion. The spicy bbq left a little bit of heat on your tongue as an aftertaste but still very ketchup flavored on first impression. If you like that style of bbq this maybe for you. I do love the dicey nature of this place, their big bar selection, and big menu. You can get away with a $10 order here. But being from the south I can't really justify more than 3 stars for this bbq. I ordered the brisket and it came as shaved meat? I've never seen that before. Brisket is generally a thicker cut and very soft. This brisket reminded me of buying cheesesteak meat at the supermarket. read more

See all

Unfortunately, it was really bad. There was meat in the potato salad. The brisket had a funny smell. I couldn't eat it. The ribs had an odd taste. I needed up ordering from somewhere else right after. read more

This is what you need to know: get the brisket chili. Located between Victor's and Flanagan's. Friendly service, two TVs, fair amount of seating inside at counters and tables. Cartilage free ribs bum me out, but there was an acceptable amount of tender meat on the conservatively sized bones. Pulled pork and chicken weren't too dry. I'm a big fan of vinegar but their sauces are pretty unexciting. Cornbread is on the cake-y side, which is fine by me though I know it would render certain purists riotous. Collards are coarsely sliced and cooked down a bit with crumbled bacon, but still on the bitter side and craving more flavor. Saving grace is the chili. Might come back to try the wings and fried brownie, but it's looking dubious. read more

See all

First off, restaurant has cool and iconic decor, unlike the smoothed-out genteel look of most Bethesda restaurants. I can't say I tried a broad array from the menu, but the brisket chili was absurdly good! Also, a really good selection of brews, including local favorites like Surrender Dorothy. Definitely will be back. read more

First off - let me say that the service at Smoke BBQ is bar none. The woman who helped us out was just so sweet. She explained different menu items. She entertained us in small talk. She was the best waitress/ cashier. But I have to be honest. This time around I was less than enthused by the food. I got the BBQ chicken salad. First - I have to say it. Please don't serve me salad in a red basket with a piece of parchment paper or whatever that red checkered paper is. A salad has no place being in that. I found myself multiple time punching through the paper with my knife inadvertently and it was just generally difficult to eat in this vessel. There is a reason why 99 percent of salads are served in bowls. You're gonna have to make the investment if you want to do salads. Onto the salad. BBQ chicken salad has corn, black beans, tomatoes, avocado, and house fried tortillas. Everything was fresh but It was just so... Simple. Super one dimensional. Like - if I were you- 1. Take the avocado - dress is with some lime and salt and then put it on the salad 2. Take the tortillas strips you made and sprinkle on a little garlic powder and chili powder on them right out of the fryer. 3. Then- the corn. Roast it- and get that good carmalized flavor on it 4. The chicken on top. It was cold pulled chicken. It was just weird. I would have rather it be hot -and not drenched in sauce- but the sauce infused (baked into it ) 5. Both dressings I had reminded me of cafeteria style dressings. 6. Tomato wasn't fresh either I love the concept they are going for here/. But they need to up their game on the menu offerings. If you're gonna stay in Bethesda- you need a big draw! I want you to stay- we need a good BBQ place- also Do you know how much money you would make with a critical big salad in Bethesda. You would do a killing. Salad- also the profit margin is fantastic! But- I so have to say- I felt a bit ripped off for - I think it was 8 or 9 bucks. I got a side of mash potatoes and it was also fairly bland. I didn't taste much of any seasoning at all. Or butter. Sorry smoke/ I'm gonna need you to go a bit harder on some things. read more

Brisket chili, great, spicy, and moist. Collard greens, good, tender, and moist. Brisket, not good and tasted like dry roast beef. Corn bread, not good and almost no corn flavor. Service, friendly. Worth trying other items. read more

Super happy! We ordered take out and scheduled ahead. It was ready exactly on time and everything was accounted for. We got 1lb smoked Turkey and a lb of brisket and a bunch of sides. All of it was super yum! The Turkey was moist and the brisket was served in a light sauce and had more bbq sauce on the side. We served 4 and and probably have enough leftovers for another meal or two. Support local businesses like this. read more

Great food. Always good service and good selection of beers. Has a good happy hour. Friendly interior.

I am sure that for most people Smoke BBQ is perfectly acceptable BBQ. Although I'm from the north originally I have really high standards for BBQ. For several years I helped out on a competition barbecue team that competed at The big barbecue events around the country. I stopped in at Smoke for a quick lunch - - I had a hankering for BBQ and saw it just across the street. I had the brisket sandwich and a side of fries. Really good brisket should have a smoke ring and a pink center. This brisket was all gray/brown. Proper brisket should have an outer crust of spices. This brisket had none of that. I slathered it with sauce to give it some taste. The sauce was fine, but uninspiring. read more

(4) ~ very good overall takeout. Note: There's a Public Parking Lot to the Left of the place. SAUCES: ** Spicy BBQ = (4.25) Very good ** BBQ = (4) very good ENTREES: ** St. Louis Ribs = (4) very good & meaty SIDES: ** Collard Greens = (4) very good ** French Fries = (4) very good * Mac & Cheese = (3.5) good flavor, but would be better with some texture, like breadcrumbs &/or Burnt parts;) * Potato Salad = (3.5) good, but has bacon... DESSERTS: * Funnel Cake = (2) meh...too burnt and barely any powdered sugar:( read more

I asked for Brisket and got Roast Beef. I asked for scalloped potatoes and got potato salad with a dab of cheese. You see me eating with a spoon bc they did not provide any utensil. lucky I found a spoon in my car. the corn bread was edible. read more

Smoke BBQ - This is suppose to be brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

Our office ordered this for our kickoff meeting lunch. We had brisket, pulled chicken, beans, and Mac and cheese. I would say it's average BBQ. Something to fill the void but nothing to write home about. Flavor definitely can be enhanced and the sauces as well. read more

Great selection of drinks and BBQ. Chili Cheese dog was excellent, some of the best cornbread I've ever had. Great place to eat dinner or spend a day watching football and eating/drinking. Great service. read more

Customer service was good but food is awful wasn't informed that the chicken was pulled and unseasoned tasted like it's boiled read more

Smoke BBQ - Chicken Platter , chicken is horribly dry and there is no seasoning the cornbread is ok - Barbeque Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Ordered salmon tacos via uber eats and they were sooo good. They came packed with smoked salmon, avocado, and the dressing was omg. Definitely worth trying. read more

Smoke BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I'm going to be honest here, It's not the best looking bbq... but damn does it taste good. The pork looked pretty dry and bland and I couldn't have been more wrong, it was juicy and delicious. The chicken wings were massive and were the prize for sure. Wish I had a picture but will definitely be back and will be sure to get one then. Great stuff. read more

My son and myself stopped here on our monthly road trips for dinner. Pulled pork is very juicy and seasoned well. Macaroni and cheese is very creamy. Coleslaw and cornbread is "meh" at best. Baked beans is good. The french fries was hot, crispy, and a nice season to them. I love the vinegar sauce. I would definitely eat here again. read more

Ordered takeout and loved it! Got the brisket platter, which came with cornbread, coleslaw, and my choice of side (went with mac n cheese). Macaroni was yummy and creamy, and I don't even like coleslaw, but this coleslaw was so good it made me reconsider (it tastes homemade!). Cornbread was super dry and crumbly, but honestly, some cornbread is better than none when it comes to barbecue! Deviled eggs were delicious. All in all, I think Smoke is a new favorite!! read more

Smoke BBQ - Deviled Eggs - Barbeque Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

This place has decent BBQ and is close to those of you who live in Bethesda. It is fast and there is a lot of food on the plate. Decent pricing. It has lots of options, but the most popular seems to be the ribs and the rib platters, which come with coleslaw, corn bread, and a side of your choice. My grandmother, brother, and I went to dinner here tonight. It is very traditional southern... Maryland, that is! It's cute, with guitars on the walls and lots of beer signs. Very "man cave" decor!!! Lots of country music playing in the background, if you're into that sort of thing you'll LOVE it, haha. The mac n cheese and fries are delicious, as well as the pork ribs. I would definitely go back here. It seemed to be very empty for 7 PM on a Thursday night though. Huh. Well, regardless, reliable BBQ! The half of a rack was so meaty I couldn't even finish it! read more

See all

Food is not good, but might be a good place to drink. I went in to try the BBQ on a slow day and the staff was very friendly. They told me about how they smoke their own meat and make everything from scratch, but I they don't do a good job at it and I grossly overpaid. I even paid extra for Brisket which was a HUGE mistake. Google a picture of brisket, and then look at the pictures they have posted here. Theres no comparison. It was dry, chewy, and covered is a light sauce that I did not ask for or want. The rest of the food was unremarkable and I would highly recommend driving to Mission BBQ over this place if you want actual BBQ. That being said, friendly staff, okay bar atmosphere. Sounded like they have organized some game nights and its a nice quiet atmosphere. There's a lot of places around here that you can say that about, so that doesn't really bring the grade back up for me. read more