Great BBQ and service after a day in Rocky Mountain National Park. Great BBQ and service after a day in Rocky Mountain National Park. read more

Some of the food here is OK, and the service was actually great. But I'm not exaggerating when I say this was the worst brisket I've ever had in my life. I genuinely don't understand how a BBQ restaurant could put something like that on a plate and feel confident charging for it. It tasted like absolutely zero effort went into it and was very dry. Maybe the rest of the menu is incredible, I wouldn't know. But after trying the brisket I'm not curious enough to find out. read more

We decided to eat a Smokin' Dave's BBQ after a long day hiking at RMNP. We visited a bit after 6PM on a Sunday in the pouring rain and even though we thought it was shoulder season, the place was absolutely packed. We were quoted a 35-40 minute wait time. Since the waiting area was completely full we decided to go back to the car. Luckily, they use a waitlist system that sends updates via cellphone. It ended up only taking 20 minutes, and soon we sat inside to order. The food took about 15 minutes to arrive: Smokin' Bison Ribs ($29) - This entree comes with ribs, two sides, and a cornbread muffin. Bison Ribs - Three huge ribs decorate the top of the plate. According to the menu, they try to provide two pounds of meat - I'm not 100% sure it's that much, but it is a substantial portion nonetheless. The meat is moist and while not fall-off-the-bone, courtesy of a very thick layer of silver skin attaching the meat to the bone, is tender enough to be easy to eat. The ribs are slathered in a blackberry bbq sauce. It's not nearly as sweet or fruity as the name suggests. Instead, the flavors are very complementary and work so well together with the fabulously smoky and somewhat charred flavor of the ribs. (5/5) Side 1: Southern Corn Bake Casserole - This includes tender sweet corn kernels in a very creamy sauce with some green chile, giving a small bit of vegetal heat. It's similar to a richer creamed corn with a bit of heat. (4/5) Side 2: Red Beans and Rice - Tender beans that remain whole rather than falling apart into a mushy mass, reside on top of a very small amount of soft rice. Honestly the rice is almost vestigial here given the amount of beans on top. It's all in a very rich and savory sauce filled with celery. (4/5) Cornbread - This is a moist cornbread muffin with a couple of whole corn kernels inside. It's sweet but not as sweet as a dessert. (4/5) Dave's Double Platter ($22) - This entree comes with the choice of two meats, two sides, and a cornbread muffin. Meat 1: Brisket - A pink smoke ring surrounds pieces of lean, pale colored brisket flat. The meat arrives in a puddle of juices and seems to have plenty of black pepper embedded in the crust, but not any particular bark, making it seem like the brisket will be moist and tender. Unfortunately, the opposite is true - it's mostly dry with only superficial moisture on the exterior. I feel like they store pieces of brisket immersed in vats of the meat juices and keep it heated through service. They rest there until someone orders the brisket, then chunks are lifted out and sliced to order. All the moisture seems to be sucked out - on the first bite I could tell that I needed to eat the brisket in bbq sauce. Still, while dry, it's not too tough and it does have a good level of smoke. (3/5) Meat 2: Pulled Pork - The pulled pork has the same issues as the brisket and the same upsides: dry, with only superficial moisture, no bark, good smoke ring. Strangely they provided a piece of very light colored pork that wasn't shredded and was actually really tough and completely dried out. At least the darker meat shredded pieces are small enough to immerse in the meat juices to remoisten. (3/5) Side 1: Jalapeno Hush Puppies - These spherical fried corn fritters are stuffed with jalapenos, giving enough heat for the mouth to tingle. The texture is very dense, moist (especially due to the addition of onion), and smooth, making it seem homemade rather than commercial. For some reason, the center of each hush puppy has a void. They are fried well, giving a good crisp on the exterior. (5/5) Side 2: BBQ Baked Beans - These are very tender mixed beans in a very sweet sauce. I'd say very similar in sweetness level to canned beans. There are some small pieces of bacon mixed in to spice things up. (3/5) Cornbread - Interestingly not baked as much as the one that came with the bison ribs, making it much paler in color. I guess they aren't that consistent at baking these. Otherwise it could be due to hotter or colder spots in the oven? Other than the bison ribs, the other barbecue items are kind of meh. At least the sides are mostly good. Portion sizes are large but not comically big. We had enough leftovers for one meal the next day. When we left a bit after 7:30 PM, the place was still completely full and there were still people in the waiting room. Seems like a very popular place for dinner! Bathrooms - Two larger rooms/multiple stalls, one for men, one for women. read more

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I should know better than to order BBQ when I'm not in the south. I do know better. And, yet, I've strayed far too many times. Our visit to Smokin' Dave's once again reminded me of this. The restaurant was full so we ate at the bar. If you are shorter than 5' 5" or so, eating at the bar may not be your best choice. There is a large rail around the bar which forced me to lean over to eat. If I hadn't, I'd probably be wearing my lunch. We ordered a plate with two meats. It also came with two sides and cornbread. We got our food extremely fast. I'm not kidding - definitely less than 5 minutes. They may have done a little better had it taken a couple of minutes longer. The sides were hot but the meat was barely warm. We had pulled pork and brisket. The pulled pork was fine. Nothing special. The brisket was tender but dry. None of the 4 available sauces would win any awards. Every one was just meh. The corn casserole was good and had a little zing. The "southern" fried okra was from a bag. Like everything else, nothing special. We usually share and the two meat plate just wasn't quite enough. Our friends who were here last week recommended Smokin' Dave's. They are usually right on the mark. Unfortunately, not this time. At least their recommendations on what to do in the park were spot on. Despite our lunch, we had an incredible day exploring this amazing National Park! read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Brisket, pulled pork, baked corn and okra - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

We went yesterday with a group of 12 friends to Estes Park to celebrate a birthday! I originally talked to Rick who was really nice and when we arrived the manager in charge was Angel who was super helpful and cordial and went far and beyond to make sure that everything will go smoothly and perfect !! Everyone was really friendly and courteous, food was delicious and the ambiance was pleasant! I recommend this restaurant and we will be back!! read more

Food was freshly made and in hefty quantities. Loved the sweet potato fries. Cooked perfectly and seasoned well. Service was good and attentive. Ambiance was one of a bar/tavern like place. Definitely casual. read more

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This was our first dinner in town and we really enjoyed it. We loved the catfish tenders and the pork ribs really blew us away with the amazing smoky flavors. The cornbread was also tasty. I will say the meats are definitely the stars of the show. I did not care much for any of the sides unfortunately. However our server was very friendly and the interior was very eclectic and cozy. read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - St Louis Pork Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

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I knew better. I knew better than to not have BBQ while on vacation, being from Texas. It's a small mountain town, and this place had okay reviews and figured why not. To sum it up; tough. Had a three meat plate and the brisket was very dry and tough, the ribs were the same and honestly I don't remember the other meat I had. Kinda forgettable. The sides were good from what I remember. Maybe it was an off night? But around our table it was similar experiences, honestly a big let down. I don't think I'll be in Estes again anytime, but I'd honestly be hard pressed to go back. read more

We came in while in town on vacation based on the great reviews. There were five of us and we were quickly seated and greeted. All of us ordered cocktails or beer. My son loved the candy cane beer and my daughter and I both enjoyed the Colorado Green Tea. I ordered the pulled pork plate and the jalapeño cheese sausage (for my son because he ordered a Reuben but he wanted to try the sausage). First off, there was so much food. And it was delicious. The pork was tender and not fatty and full of flavor. We loved the many choices of bbq sauce. I had green beans and sweet potato fries with it. The green beans were fresh and cooked with onions and bacon. My daughter had potato salad and raved about it. All five of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals and four of us went home with leftovers. Make sure you try the cornbread. It is like having dessert. We enjoyed our meals so much that we went back a second night during our week in town and had another meal that was just as great as the first one. It was hands down our favorite place that we ate while in town. The place was very casual and we loved the music that was played. There are lots of booths and several tables. read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Pulled Pork - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

This place is great! Delicious, fresh food, good service, and very fast. My hungry teenager (post long hike) and I shared the 3 choice BBQ platter with sides. We got ribs, pulled pork and brisket. Sides were fried okra, sweet potato fries and added side of coleslaw. We definitely had enough food. We will be back!! read more

Food is absolutely terrible. Not sure why anyone would post more than a 1 star for this place. Brisket is bland, chewy and should be left to Texas. Not sure how you can get a baked potatoes wrong but they did. I couldn't eat it. The side salad was a mix of old wilted salad, chili was basically a bowl of beans and even the onion rings were bland and the onions were still not cooked properly. Service is kind and fast. read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

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Was recommended to check out Smokin Dave's...was told it was a MUST STOP in Estes Park. We arrived about an hour before they closed, and the line was out the door. They took our number and would page us when ready. Fortunately we were able to get a few bar seats after about 20 minutes, and ordered quickly. Food came out, it was hot, tasty and plentiful. It's BBQ, so our platters were a little pricey, but it was quality bbq. Service was fast and the place was cozy. Be prepared to wait for a seat, but the food is def worth the wait. read more

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I'm not sure why I was surprised at how good this place was, maybe it was because my previous BBQ experiences in other small towns throughout the US ranged from 2 to 3 stars but this place was a solid 5 out of 5. The meats were prepared perfectly and the sauces tasted great. The cornbread was creamy if that even makes sense. The perfect flavor for all things and the staff were a solid 4/5. I will definitely be back again in the future when visiting Estes Park. read more

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I want to start by saying, being from Texas, I am always skeptical about BBQ out of town. This is not at the same level as straight out of Texas BBQ. HOWEVER, Smokin Dave's food was its OWN unique and wonderful version of BBQ that was EXACTLY what we needed after being out and about all day. The okra was great, the meat was tender, the sauce was great. Our waiter kept our drinks full and was very helpful with any questions we had about the food. The inside was cozy just like your typical small town BBQ joint that you know you can count on. Would recommend! read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Carolina Pulled Pork sandwich with Potato Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

Great food, service and atmosphere couldn't ask for better. Really happy we checked it out. Sorry we didn't take pics.

11/10 best bbq in town absolutely loved the restaurant. Beautiful view from the window of the restaurant. read more

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Pork Ribs Platter. 2 sides + cornbread. Good food, fast service. Large portion for $18+ meal. read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

Food was amazing, and I mean everything. We had the sampler platter each item was fantastic. Also had brisket, jalapeño cheddar sausage, hush puppies, and the corn casserole. Was honestly blown away at how good the sides were. Lots of BBQ places have decent sides but Smokin Dave's is far beyond any I've had over the years. Kitchen was crazy quick too, food was out in 5 minutes. All that being said, the server gave us our food and did not come back to our table without flagging her down. It's did seem like they got a rush right after we arrive though. read more

Came here after a long day of hiking at the Rocky Mountain National Park. We were ready for some good food and figured what better place than a BBQ restaurant. There was a line to get in but we all got seated without having to wait more than 5 minutes since most people in line were getting take out. We started with the onion rings and they were crispy and massive. The BBQ ranch on the side had a little bit of kick to it which made them even better. We ended up adding in more BBQ sauce (you can never have too much) which was a game changer. For the main course between my boyfriend and I we ordered most of the meats including the pulled pork, brisket, jalapeno sausage and bison ribs. For sides we got the potatoes, fries, hush puppies and the corn bake casserole. Let me just say this is some of the best BBQ I've had. All of the BBQ was cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside while tender and juicy on the inside. It was my first time trying bison and the bison ribs blew me away. I was a little skeptical on the blackberry BBQ sauce but it enhances the flavor so much and there was a ton of meat. The brisket and jalapeno sausage were also excellent. The pulled pork was average but also hard to be a show stopper. As for the sides the corn bake casserole was the best. It was a creamy corn side dish that went perfect with all the meat. The rest of the sides were average at best but we were so full we were fine with not finishing them. Overall this place was exactly what we needed after hiking all day. It was very conveniently located right outside of the Rocky Mountains. The portion sizes were huge and the high quality of meat made it worth the price. Next time we are in Colorado we will for sure be back here! read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Smokin' Rings - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

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Smokin' Dave's is an American BBQ restaurant here in Colorado. This one in Estes Park is, in fact, the original location that open in 2007. They also have locations in Lyons, Longmont, and Denver. I haven't eaten here in a long time. Not for any particular reason, it just hasn't happened. I discovered their Denver location in 2020 and remember liking their tried and true take on BBQ. They don't specialize in one specific region, but rather pull from their favorites i.e. Texas brisket or St. Louis ribs. After a spectacular morning at Rocky Mountain National Park, Smokin' Dave's seemed like a fitting meal to recharge the batteries. The patio was full, so I buckled up at the bar since a refreshing beer was also on my radar. I do have to point out that the service was a little absent at first. The host told me to seat myself at the bar, and a few bartenders didn't greet me for quite some time. Pet peeve of mine when I acknowledge the staff before they do to me, but eventually someone came over. The two meat platter was the move after a hike. It comes with two sides and cornbread. My platter included the aforementioned Texas brisket and St. Louis ribs. I also ordered baked beans and coleslaw as my sides. The ribs are bar none some of the best I've had in Colorado. They're meaty, unctuous, and pull off the bone perfectly. No sauce required if you ask me! The brisket was also very good. Juicy and tender, with the fatty pieces stealing the show. For sides, the baked beans were in a thin sauce which I would have preferred thicker, but still delicious. They are cooked with meat and very flavorful. The coleslaw I could've done without personally. Also, why don't they serve mac and cheese here? I would've LOVED mac and cheese! Smokin' Dave's is a super reliable BBQ restaurant with succulent meats and a solid beer list. Whether you're checking out the OG in Estes or one of their other locations, odds are you'll get a damn good meal! read more

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Popular bbq spot, lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Dog friendly outside patio. Ribs tender and juicy, brisket sliced and little on the dry side. Small menu selection. read more

Great BBQ and even better service. Our server Ricky was attentive, kind, and made the whole experience enjoyable. 10/10 service! read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - We got the Tinnie Winnie platter that serves for 2-4 people. - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

Big groups, beware--this place is a hot mess for parties over 6! Our crew of 8 got stuck waiting 45+ minutes, only to be told we'd have to twiddle our thumbs even longer for the *one* spot they could shove us into. Pro tip: the 45-minute wait they quote you at check-in? Total fiction, pulled straight from thin air with zero regard for reality or past group waits. I'd love to actually eat here someday, but save yourself the regret and don't roll up with a crowd! read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - sadness of not being able to eat here - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

Three meat combo (brisket, pulled pork and ribs) for $24. Split between two of us and still had leftovers. Red potato salad and jalapeño hush puppies were super tasty too. My favorite part...sauces on the table! All four options were delicious and I'm pretty sure I could have drank the Carolina one. Service was attentive and well decorated/maintained. read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

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Service was pretty good, okay BBQ, but catfish is not really from the South (American) feels okay stating Southern Asia catfish

Best. Wings. Of. My life. Get them in the Thai Chili sauce. Unreal. The cornbread was also amazing. read more

Our server was knowledgeable about the menu which helped us make our selection. We sat in a booth by the speaker so it was a little loud. The food was really good. The portions were good. Our server was attentive and friendly. read more

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Can't believe I went to Colorado to have Texas style BBQ, but I was actually impressed. They did a solid job of representing Texas Q in both flavor and serving size. These plates were massive! We got 2, 3 meat plates being able to sample all of their meats from brisket, sausage, pork rib, bison rib, pulled pork and chicken. The best of the bunch was the bison rib followed by the pork rib, but all were delicious. We also got the fish and chips and that was fried to perfection. My favorite side was the cornbread. They also had a wide variety of sauces but the bbq didn't really need it. The service was very attentive and the prices were fair. read more

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I really wanted to love this spot, especially after reading so many glowing reviews. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to the hype for me. The pulled pork was tender but lacked depth : more like boiled meat than something slow-smoked. The ribs were decent, but the thick layer of overly sweet BBQ sauce overpowered the meat, and they tasted more oven-baked than smoker-finished. I had high hopes for the green bean, they looked fantastix but were surprisingly bland. Even the bacon didn't add much flavor. That said, there were some highlights: the jalapeño hushpuppies were crispy, golden, and packed a little kick. I also enjoyed the cornbread that was moist with just enough sweetness, and their Carolina BBQ sauce had a nice tang that cut through. read more

We stopped in for dinner. It was busy! But they were able to seat us at the bar immediately. The bar tender, Luis was awesome and attentive! He made some awesome suggestions that did not disappoint. We wanted to try a little of everything and we were so glad we did!! The St Louis ribs were cooked to perfection and fell right off the bone! The pulled pork was delish as well as the chicken and brisket. Luis recommended the onion rings and they were a not so tiny rings of heaven! All of the sides were top notch. Especially the baked beans and hush puppies. If we ever come back to Estes, we will definitely be eating here! read more

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Favorite BBQ place in Estes Park hand down. Highly recommend the Not So Tenny Wahine platter. $42.00 - Eat the leftovers during your stay. The staff is friendly, great craft beers, they have sports on the TV's and a patio. Private parking lot. Always a fun place. read more

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We had driven from Evanston Wyoming to Estes Park, we knew we had to find a place to eat quickly because, places would be closing soon. We were in Estes Park for a family reunion and this was the only night we were on our own, there wouldn't be another chance for BBQ. When we arrived at Smokin Dave's and climbed out of our car, we were greeted by that classic smokey smell of BBQ. When we walked in, there wasn't anyone up front and it looked like they might be done for the night. Thankfully, someone saw us before we gave up. Once our order was taken our food arrived quickly and it was delicious. The brisket melted in your mouth and the meat fell off the ribs. It was obvious they had been busy earlier and the staff was ready to call it a night but, we never felt pressured or rushed. Some of our extended family tried to have dinner here later in the week and there was a 45 minute wait. They chose not to wait, I recommend waiting, it's worth it. read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Ribs, brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

This place really hit the spot after our day of hiking Rocky Mountain National Park. The platter was big enough for me and my girlfriend to split and we were both full afterwards. We chose 2 meats: the buffalo ribs and brisket. Both were solid and the buffalo ribs were HUGE. read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Smoked Buffalo Ribs, Texas Beef Brisket, Cornbread, BBQ Baked Beans, and Sweet Potato Fries - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

Love Smokin Dave's! Visit here every time we come up. Today we enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich, two meats ribs & ribs and the Texas Blue. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is great as it is a great roadhouse BBQ and the music they play is great. read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

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:: Food :: We opted in ordering 2 Smokin' Platters (Dave's Double) so we can try different meats. I felt like the chicken and brisket were pretty standard, a bit drying to my liking. I liked the Texas BBQ Sausage and smashed potatoes though. :: Service :: The hostess did not seem friendly whatsoever. Our waiter was also mediocre, he was not attentive and forgot the sauce that we requested for. read more

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Plenty of food - I enjoyed the catfish entree and my husband had the ribs. We were seated within 15 min. Wait staff was attentive. My friend's burger was bit dry though. read more

This was probably my favorite restaurant in Estes Park! We had just gotten back from a long hike and were all starving. We started with the fried pickles appetizer which was delicious. Normally I prefer pickle slices rather than spears, but these were great. The batter was awesome. We also split the pulled chicken bbq wrap (AMAZING) and the Cajun chicken sandwich (good, but not great). I had the potato salad which was pretty solid and we also had the jalapeno hush puppies. These were delicious. The bar and restaurant area was super cute. If the kids weren't with us I would have loved to hang out a bit longer and have a cocktail. read more

This was a win! We stopped by for an early dinner after being in the park all day. So glad we did! The food was delicious, and we're picky about BBQ. It was moist and delicious, and the sides were excellent. (Don't miss the cornbread!) Service was great too. Next time we're in the area, we'll be back! read more

Service was OK. Guy forgot my beer until I finished half my meal. - Pork Ribs, Sausage, & Brisket 5/5 The pork ribs are VERY tender- fall off the bone. The sausage has a good snap and good taste. The brisket is juicy. These three meats were really good. - Bison Rib 2/5 It was the only cold meat on the plate. The jam on top of the rib messes with the flavor of the bison. It wasn't worth the $10 up charge. - Baked beans 5/5 The beans are SO good! Pieces of meat in there too. A little sweet but not too sweet. - Cole slaw 4/5 Solid Cole slaw, nothing special. - Spiced apple 1/5 Didn't go with the BBQ. - Fried Hushpuppies 1/5 Not good. They were cold and too hard. Parking free in the lot. read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

While in town for a wedding, we had a binder in our rental cottage that listed a handful of local places to get a bite to eat - Smokin' Dave's was one of them! My husband and I both agreed it would be a yummy lunch choice and headed that way! Parking was ample and we found a spot immediately as it was out of the main street area but only minutes away! We got seated right away and browsed the menu. It took a while to have a server (or anyone) greet us at our table, probably 10 minutes. I made eye contact with a group of servers chatting and one immediately came by. We ordered the green pork chili, the fried pickles, and a platter of 3 meats. We asked for the chili and the pickles to come first and they did! It was SUPER quick but that is a positive thing! The server was fantastic, attentive, and kind. The food was good, smaller portions of the sides but tasty as can be! Overall, I would return! The cheddar jalapeno sausage was my favorite and it was fun to sample the different BBQ sauces at the table and take some to go from the host stand to enjoy with our leftovers. My husband and I truly enjoyed all of it! Try it out - great location, tasty food and good quality! read more

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