Amazing!!! A busy and popular place. We were tired so we got takeout and wish we had more time here to go back and try more. The pulled pork was tender ams juicy and the chicken was cooked perfectly. The spiced apples are a must!! read more

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

Always start with the good- friendly service, large portions, the sauces are all good. The bad - was it bbq? I'll let you decide but I'll say this. Was there bark or a smoke ring on the brisket or pulled pork? No there was not. We're both wet because they were sitting in water yes yes they were. Was that enjoyable? No no it was not. Beans were sold very very sweet with a little tang. Potato salad super mayo taste but good. read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Carolina Pulled Pork Texas Beef Brisket Potato Salad BBQ Baked Beans - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

Great service. Manuel was our server. Had great info for us and helped us with any additions we needed. Checked on us just the right amount. My husbands brisket sandwich was super good. Fries were good, but the oil they were fried in might need changing. I had the 2 meat option platter with 1/2 chicken and ribs. Chicken was a bit dry and cold but the ribs were right off the smoker and were AMAZING. Prices were very reasonable. read more

Fabulous place to stop for food on the way back from Estes Park. Service is quick, food comes out fast, everything is tasty! Lots of seating both indoors and outdoors, and pricing is great considering how much food you get! read more

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

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Haven't been in an and haven't updated the review either, so here for a late dinner. Wife surprised me and well glad she did. Now I remember this place has great sandwiches and sides and one of the top 3 Reubens I've had. Oh and good local Bourbon for a really nice pour price. $8 for Woody Creek Rye. Yup I stand by my original statement, only just now learned that Dave started in Los Angeles at Boss Hogs, I've been there and it's good, then he moves to Hawaii and then here, so more respect now. Good BBQ, excellent sandwiches, salads, and sides read more

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This place was amazing! We sat in the bar and Ricky served us. We had the most delicious meal and an awesome beer (Controlled Burn) Service friendly and attentive. The briskit was delicious and generous and the cornbread muffin top notch. Wonderful value as well. No wonder it can be crowded at dinner time. So worth any wait. read more

Tried Smokin' Dave's while visiting from Texas. The food is good and the portions are huge but the downside for us was the lack of smokiness in the meat. I could be wrong but I'm not convinced this is true low and slow smoked bbq. I'm curious to know the smoke method used here. However, the bbq sauce is fantastic. We tried all 3 and loved them! The sides were good too. I took the order to go so I can't really speak on the atmosphere and service but the girl in the front was kind. Did the food scratch the itch for smoked bbq? No. Is the food good? Yes. Would I recommend this place? Absolutely! I know this is a snobby review and I don't want to take away from the hard work that is put into this food but here in Texas, we take bbq seriously. Much love read more

Food was incredible. Drinks were great. Service was fast. 10/10 recommend stopping here and trying it out! read more

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

We got seated fairly quickly, and our waiter was awesome! Food came quickly, and was excellent. The brisket was especially good. Will 100% be returning when we're back in the area! read more

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

Dave's was good, they have southern sweet tea my favorite. We got the the platter, $50 serves more than 4+ depending on how hungry you are. Everything was cooked just right. read more

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We had a very good BBQ meal with two meats. The inside is like most sports bars and our server was a nice guy. read more

Smokin' Dave's BBQ - Two meats; brisket and ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Estes Park, Colorado

Every time we go to smoking Dave's, it is always the best atmosphere, service and food! Our server was Manuel and he was very kind and polite- a great server read more

Great portion sizes for the price, BBQ ribs were delish and we give it bonus points for a pup friendly patio! read more

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

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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Had Dave's Hot Chicken Sanwhich and country fried steak with the wife, amazing! Side of brisket not so much great meal tho! Amazing service as well. read more

We ordered the family platter for 4 of us. I think it would have fed 8! Amazing portions and great flavor. Was definitely a hit on our trip.

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

The food was amazing. We had a family meal with ribs, chicken, brisket, and pulled pork. The meal came with 4 sides (we chose baked beans, potato salad, red beans and rice and Mac and cheese ) There was plenty of food for 4, we had leftovers to take home. The server was pleasant and friendly. We told him we told him we were from Texas and he said he had family in Texas and had visited several times. The restaurant had great decor for a BBQ spot. We will tell friends and family if in the area it is a must try. 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 is probably one of the best BBQ restaurants in Colorado! Delicious food, quick service and reasonable prices. While the line may be long, it is well worth the wait time, and it actually moves pretty quickly. A must stop after a long day in Rocky Mountains NP! read more

IF YOU ARE FROM TEXAS BEWARE! Joining the other 2 star reviews in saying, "I should have known better". If you are from Texas you have been living lavish in the BBQ world, this place will more than likely disappoint. $50 is reasonable as BBQ requires hard work to make. However it's not going to match what you are used to. read more

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

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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

Every time we come to town we eat here at least once, and the only disappointing thing is, sometimes, the wait. Food and service are on point every time. It is the best brisket I've ever had, and that says a lot since I lived in Texas. Highly, highly recommended. read more

Stopped in on our way into Estes Park and we're so glad we did. Everything we ordered was amazing, portions were big and service was great! What a great find, highly recommend! 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

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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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

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

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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I don't really like bbq but this place totally refreshed my recognitions for the bbq , absolutely good read more

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

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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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No complaints! Very good BBQ after a long day in the Rocky Mountain National Park! Casual atmosphere and friendly staff. I enjoyed their pulled pork and mac n cheese. Try their beer. read more

If you're gonna serve "southern-style" barbecue, you've gotta season it southern-style. All of our food was very bland, and I was frankly disappointed due to the amount of high reviews this place received. read more

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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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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Atmosphere, service, and FLAVOR. The sauces were excellent. My wife and I shared a 3 item plate. Brisket, pulled pork, jalapeño-cheddar sausage. All were very good. The mustard and the tangy sauces were so good. We got sautéed green beans and fried okra for sides both were very good. Corn bread was excellent. My son got the bbq burger which was also great. We are probably going back tomorrow. It was that good. read more

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