I found this place while looking for a good local BBQ place. It was a holiday weekend and other places were closed. Glad we ended up here. They will be expanding soon. Street parking is available right in front of the store. You can order with the cashier or scan the QR code. We ordered the Meat Sampler that includes Brisket, Pulled Pork, Rib Tips, Cheddar Jalapeno link, and House Made Pickles. We also ordered the Sides Sampler that includes Mac & Cheese, Red Beans & Rice, Collard Greens, Apple Slaw, and Cornbread Muffin. Everything we tried was delicious and hit the spot on our BBQ craving. I will definitely be back to try other items from their menu. read more

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Soul & Smoke in Evanston was excellent. I had the meat sampler and the side sampler, and it was the perfect way to try a little bit of everything. Considering I am from Texas, I will admit I can be a little particular when it comes to BBQ, but this was pretty good BBQ, especially this far north. The smoked meats were flavorful, tender, and had a good slow-cooked taste. The brisket, pulled pork, rib tips, and sausage all brought something different, and the variety made the meal feel like a true sampler experience. The sides were just as good. The mac and cheese, red beans and rice, collard greens, apple slaw, and cornbread all had that comforting soul food feel and paired really well with the BBQ. Overall, Soul & Smoke delivered on both the smoke and the soul. Great flavor, generous portions, and a satisfying meal from start to finish. Definitely a spot worth visiting if you are in Evanston and looking for good BBQ and soul food. read more

Soul & Smoke - MEAT SAMPLER & SIDES SAMPLER - Barbeque Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

The gumbo was amazing! Make sure you make some rice to go with it. The pastrami was great on a Hawaiian roll and their gold and house bbq sauce went well with the brisket too. Quick ordering directly thru their website for pickup as well. Excited to see their expanded dining room opening soon. And of course the corn bread muffin was dynamite as well as the amazing Mac n cheese. It was a filling meal that lasted for 2 meals. Friendly service and no tipping required bc they pay their staff well. read more

First visit to Soul and Smoke yesterday at 5:30 pm. First of all, the restaurant is a beautiful, high-ceilinged, open space with lots of natural light pouring in. Second: No loud, pounding music. Third: NO TVs -- a real plus. Instead of getting what I might ordinarily order (ribs, brisket, sausage), I figured I'd live on the edge -- after all, chef D'Andre Carter trained under Charlie F. Trotter. So I chose the creative Pastrami Burnt Ends. Verdict: Smoky, spicy, chewy, both fatty & tender -- loved 'em. A tougher challenge: What my vegetarian wife might order. Instead of playing it safe by ordering a salad, she opted for the Tomato Pot Pie -- AMAZINGLY good. Finally: Top-notch BBQ is here in Evanston! read more

Soul & Smoke - Pastrami Burnt Ends - Barbeque Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Service was outstanding! The new dining room is gorgeous. Hebru Brantley came out of retirement to paint a wall mural . Seating and spacing is comfortable. Food is delicious but slightly underportioned for the price. High quality product read more

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I too contemplated not sending this review considering they are in the midst of an opening. Long short my delivery was, not fresh barbque. Period full stop. Had clearly at some point been refrigerated. That's all. You have to do better read more

Soul & Smoke - The 3 ribs sent. - Barbeque Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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We went on their first Friday night. The new space is beautiful, the service was friendly and attentive and the food was fabulous!!! read more

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Thought I'd check this place out tonight. Have been really looking forward to it. Nice ambience and I enjoyed my sketchbook collab beer. It took 20 minutes for my appetizer to show up and then I waited 35 minutes for a single simple pulled pork mac & cheese that I would've really liked to have tasted, but did not arrive before I needed to move on. I understand if the order was complex, but it was not. Really disappointed. read more

I contemplated on not reviewing the establishment, but felt compelled the more I sat with the decision. I'm new to the area from FL and was looking for a BBQ/soul food establishment. I went right after lunch hour thinking I would get some fresh food, but by the look and taste of the food I can guarantee the lunch crowd got exactly what I received..reheated carryover leftover food from the week, possibly the weekend. The ribs and brisket were the worst I ever tasted. The brisket had the metallic coloring that says it was old and not edible and ribs were dry due to being reheated over and over again. The Collard greens needed a little more seasoning, but the Mac& cheese was decent enough to eat. The homemade pickles were the best thing I ate there. I paid $61.46 and it was barely enough for 1 person if it was edible. The portion sizes are straight robbery and playing in the customers face and wallet. read more

Soul & Smoke - Half Lb of Ribs Half lb of brisket Small Mac Small collards - Barbeque Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Great barbecue and great sides. The Cajun rice was especially good. The partnerships with area breweries was an additional treat.

Food off the truck was always great so I thought I would give their brick and mortar in Evanston a try. As it was a nice day, chose to sit outside. THAT may have been a mistake. As an outside customer, I was relegated to the good ole QR code menu! Wasn't really able to ask any questions. Had to pay through the app as well. As there were some snags with the orders, a waiter did have to come out to assist and make adjustments, all that could have been solved with actual waitstaff and not a QR app. Here are some problems from my point of view. If I wanted another drink, I had to go back to the app, make another order and pay again. I could have left my tab open, but I though I was done. Gratuities were included, outside, not sure about inside, an automatic 18%. Great! However, I am a usual 20% tipper so the staff lost out on 2%. And the restaurant is losing out on desserts! There was no person coming over to ask if I was interested in dessert or another drink, and I was not going back to the app. All restaurants know apps and desserts are profit! Not sure how the QR is saving the restaurant. A Hostess had to seat us, bring us menus, yes actual physical menus, a waiter had to come out and correct the order, runner brought us out the food, so tell me why the qr code and app? And at the end of the meal being outside there was no person saying "Thanks for coming, hope to see you again" or any other kind of hospitality. Again, from an outside diner pov, great food, not so great hospitality. read more

Rib tips! Meaty. Moist. Everything you could want. Must try. Service was solid. Will come back. read more

Soul & Smoke - Tips were solid! - Barbeque Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

First time trying this restaurant. We got the platter, so we had a chance to trying a lot. Everything - I mean everything - was delicious. The servers were pleasant. Can't wait until the inside is open . At that point , I'll return . read more

Soul & Smoke - Barbeque Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Perfect meal on a warm Sunday afternoon. We ventured up to Evanston to get out of the city and do some exploring. Ultimately stopped in at Soul and Smoke for some BBQ. This is the flagship location which is being converted into a full restaurant. On this occasion there was inside dining and some outside dining available. We ordered inside and then our food was brought outside. We got the meat sample and the side samplers. Both were tasty. My favorites were the brisket, cornbread, apple slaw with the pulled pork and even the Mac and Cheese was hitting. The spice on the gumbo was good but I needed the temperature to be hotter. I will say that was only negative feedback, I felt the food was not warm enough. Overall, I enjoyed the food and the service. We were pleasantly surprised by the craft cocktails and wine available for purchase. The craft cocktails are really delicious and couldn't believe that you get a little bit bang for your buck. Again, I would highlight the flavor on the meat. The brisket didn't need anything to be added to it. I also enjoyed the smoked jalapeño sausage. A special bonus is that they sold Brown Sugar bakery cake. We got the caramel cake and it was good. Next time I'm getting my own slice of cake and I am not sharing half with my husband because I only ended up getting one/fourth of the cake. read more

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SO GOOD!! My husband and I went to Soul & Smoke for dinner last night to experience their new menu and expanded space. We'd enjoyed their food truck menu a few times and were excited to check out the dine-in space. We hadn't made a reservation and so needed to wait about 30-35 minutes, but that was doable. Next time we'll take advantage of the option to order food and drinks from our phones rather than waiting on the server. Service in general was quite slow -- but I expect that when a new restaurant is getting up and running. We were seated at the chef's counter, so we enjoyed watching the kitchen action while we waited. I ordered the bananas foster old fashioned (a little sweet for my taste but still good) and my husband ordered a beer. It did take a very long time for our food to come -- but when it came, WOW was it worth it!!! I ordered the brisket dinner -- comes with collards, mac n cheese, and a corn muffin. Every single bite was fantastic. I was a bit hesitant to order brisket because I've had mixed experiences with brisket at other places -- but again, WOW. Tender, melt in your mouth, fantastic flavor, just plain epic. My husband ordered the pulled pork sandwiches with mashed potatoes and enjoyed every bite. Both of us particularly loved the corn muffin -- warm, slightly crispy edges, so good. My husband usually hates brisket but tried a bite of mine and was blown away. We also really love the look of the new space! Good light, lots of plants, and amazing art all over the place. In other words: go eat at Soul and Smoke! Be prepared for a wait at each stage, but enjoy an amazing meal in return. Yum! read more

First time in their beautiful/comfortable/classy newly expanded space. Friendly and attentive service. Loved the deviled eggs, tomato pie, red beans and rice, rib tips, bang-bang shrimp and mile high sweet potato pie - all perfectly prepared and delicious! read more

Soul & Smoke - Mural by Hebru Brantley - Barbeque Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Ordered take out for Thanksgiving. When I picked it up there was a two block long line to order. I was so happy to order in advance, I went into the restaurant entrance and picked up the food and was out in less than 5 minutes. The BBQ is fabulous. We ordered a rack which was incredibly meaty in addition to the large portion. OMG it was so tender, as was the rib tips. The brisket was also tender but our favorite were the rib tips this time. I can't wait until they build out their restaurant here. read more

I ordered chopped brisket sandwich and pulled pork. I thought both were dry and flavorless. I also did not care for the BBQ sauce luckily it was on the side. The corn bread was very tasty. I actually ended up throwing the pulled pork away because I just couldn't force myself to continue eating it. read more

So happy that I ordered catering from them this weekend! I had a party for 30 people, and everyone just raved about the food! Highly recommend them for your next party! read more

Great for friends & chill place to eat! Currently under renovations and I'm excited to see the expansion! I split the meat sampler platter with my friend and it was great. Must try all three sauces - gold, tangy, and bbq. Favorite was the burnt ends and pulled pork. Sneaky side: sweet potato with cinnamon butter! You can order through QR code at the table or at the front, service was friendly. read more

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As many reviewers have said, this place is a pricey for what you get. It's definitely better than Hecky's, but expensive. My husband loves the brisket so this time I got the platter for him which comes with a few slices, Mac & cheese and greens. (And a corn muffin.) This alone is $30. I ordered the rib tips for us to share and small sides of the Mac & cheese and greens for me. This order came to over $60. When you look at the portions, this is a lot. The saving grace is that we love everything. I will say that the greens are good but would be better without the stems. The Mac & cheese is rich, creamy and very delicious and they definitely do their meats well, so we will continue to splurge, when we want good barbecue. read more

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Absolutely delicious food that you can enjoy smelling from outside - definitely an invitation to come on in and enjoy! Mostly pork-free menu which is really appreciated. They do offer pork meals for those who want. Love the sides sampler...it's perfect for sharing and everything is absolutely delish! I've been blessed enough to eat here twice so far and the staff has been lovely and very helpful each time. I love supporting this business knowing that it's Black owned! And their humanitarian efforts are to be noted! They own and operate one of Evanston's three community fridges and support World Central Kitchen, among other orgs. Highly respectable and very appreciated. :) read more

Soul & Smoke - The SIDES SAMPLER with a smidge of beef brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Great BBQ, better service, had a great meal. Generous portions for everything except the tiny sweet potato.

This week, my organization ordered catering from Soul & Smoke for a staff event, and it exceeded our expectations! Right from the beginning, Sarah, a team member at Soul & Smoke, was very communicative and responded quickly to our inquiries. She provided excellent food recommendations regarding the number of people attending the event and detailed the food items that would be safe for our staff members with dietary restrictions or allergies. One feature we particularly appreciated was the inclusion of food tent cards, which outlined the ingredients in each dish and highlighted any allergens or dietary restrictions. This thoughtful detail made it easier for everyone to choose safely, and it's something we've never experienced with a catering service before! The delivery was on time, and they kept us updated with a delivery tracker, which was very helpful! The delivery driver assisted us in loading the catering onto a cart and was polite. Most importantly, the quality and freshness of the food were outstanding! A few standout items included the pulled pork, pulled chicken, mac & cheese, green beans, and their new dessert, peach cobbler! Our staff absolutely loved the food. Here are a couple of comments from them: - "I think Soul & Smoke may be my new favorite restaurant!" - "I think this lunch was great! I'm also happy we were able to support a local business." We are thrilled that we were able to support this local business! read more

We really enjoyed our dinner experience at Soul and Smoke. I had the gumbo and would highly recommend it. It was very authentic. My husband had the burnt ends which were also excellent. The red beans and rice were good but could have been more spicy. They had lots of good beer options. read more

I had the Pulled Pork Po' Boy. It was excellent! The meat was tender and juicy, served in a top-notch A-1 bun, the bbq sauce and Giardiniera peppers the perfect toppings. It gets the chef's kiss read more

Best barbecue I've had!!! Friendly service and great sides too. Will be back. Can't wait for the full seating but tables are cozy!

First, I have to say that the person behind the counter was extremely friendly as I entered in at 10 minutes to close. Thank you for being so accommodating. I ordered the Duroc Rib Tips. This place is undergoing some renovations, to redo the dining area. They also have a nice outdoor eating space and a love fridges My food was ready quickly and off I went. When I got home, i took it out of the bag. My brain kept saying "Meaty, meaty, meaty!! (In the tune of the trash bag commercial) these rib tips did not disappoint. Did I mention they were meaty? I had the barbecue sauce and jerk bbq sauce. The rib tips were tender with just a little bit of spice even without the sauce. A nice thin bark which I enjoyed. I can't wait to go back to try the other items, including the sides. This place has made me a fan. read more

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We tried this place for the first time tonight and were very disappointed. The prices are high and the quality was low. We got the meat platter, a side of Mac n cheese, a side of collard greens, and a kid's pork slider with mac n cheese and a kid's brisket slider with cornbread. The good? The Mac n cheese was well done - solid choice. Creamy, savory, cheesy, perfectly cooked pasta. The cornbread was solid too, slightly sweet, good size, good texture. The collard greens were also good - melt in your mouth, albeit a little on the saltier side. The meats though, which is what you go to BBQ for... were well below expectations. The sausage was the best thing on the platter sadly, all else (pulled pork, brisket, ribs) were overcooked and dry, hard to chew, and the only thing that saved them were the sauces on the table. Even sadder is the way they prepare the kids' meals. They very clearly use the scrap end meats to make kids' sliders which is really disappointing considering the burnt ends are extremely hard and extremely salty. Considering they weren't cheap, I was the most disappointed with those, thinking that could be fed to toddlers. The staff was nice (they're still constructing the restaurant, so this is very casual order and sit style), but for $90, we'll be spending our dollars elsewhere. read more

I am no expert in BBQ and other Southern dishes, but everything that I've had at Soul & Smoke was so delicious! I suggest making reservations because the indoor dining space is limited. When I came here on a Saturday night, the place quickly filled up. Once you walk in, you grab a menu near the counter and order at the register. We had a table reserved so we were seated immediately after putting our orders in. There are paper towels, plastic utensils, and condiments on each table. It was hard to decide what to order. I wanted to try everything! I chose the SMOKED DUROC RIB TIPS, PULLED PORK PO'BOY, MAC N' CHEESE, and CORNBREAD MUFFINS. They were all so good. I also liked the BEER FOR THE SOUL which was a special beer crafted for Soul & Smoke by SKETCHBOOK BREWERY from across the street. Service is friendly and efficient. There were signs inside and outside of the restaurant that they are expanding so that's great news. I will come back for sure. I already know what I will try for my next visit and I will come hungry! Til next time! read more

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I crave a pulled pork sandwich every Fall. 1st time at Soul & Smoke so tried a pulled pork slider and a brisket slider. Pulled pork was my favorite of the two and it was made more delicious by adding some Gold Sauce that they have on the tables. The apple slaw was OK, but a bit too sweet when I craved a more savory slaw. That sweet slaw went a bit better with the brisket. The brisket was OK, although the pickle was strange tasting. Just removed it. My husband will probably try the sliced brisket next time instead of the sandwich. The mac and cheese was very tasty. Nice folks and quick service. Simple ambiance with picnic tables inside a converted garage. You can order at the front desk or from your table by scanning a QR code on your phone. Parking on the street. read more

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. Spent $160 for garbage food. We decided to give them another try after my daughter reminded me about a dinner they served when they were just starting out. But, for this price the food point it's not worth it. Mike read more

I have eaten at Soul & Smoke several times. I've visited all of their locations. The one I most frequent is Evanston, closest to where I live. I have always been impressed by not only their food but their service. This time I ordered their smoked brisket dinner and a 16 oz Mac and cheese. Pretty big portions and I was able to share this meal with my partner. Haven't had Soul & Smoke for a while but was craving their food. The Mac and cheese is so good I assure you you'll need to order extra if you do indeed order some. Love this spot! read more

Soul & Smoke - Barbeque Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I ordered the 6 person Mac and Cheese -$42 with service fee and tax. I waited 50 minutes out in the cold, only to be told that on-line orders are to be picked up in the restaurant. The size of the 6 person Mac and Cheese actually equates to one adult maybe two. I don't care how many awards this product has won... not worth it. What a joke! Never again. Also, a bit of clear communication would have been nice with the pickup process and product size upfront. read more

Soul & Smoke - Barbeque Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

It's our 1st time going there we choose the meal for 2 we figured it would be enough for 2 people since it says 2/3 people when we got our for it was actually enough for just 1 person don't get me wrong it was great food tasted awesome but not enough for 2 people definitely. read more

Wonderful gumbo and chicken wings. The service was also very friendly. I recommend giving it a try.

What a strange physical location but good golly the food! We tried this place on a lark - ended up sitting at a picnic table inside just staring at the shelving. This place is not set up for ambiance on any level. But the food was SO good - messy and delicious. Just the way it should be. read more

Unfortunately expensive and small servings. They also add a substantial service charge to the order for take out.

I got brisket, beans and rice, greens and some baked sweet potatoes to go. Enjoyed a cold cocktail while I waited for my order. All very good, the brisket was moist and delicious, the greens tender, beans flavorful and the Potatoes just right. Good food at a reasonable value. Good BBQ read more

I kind of like it! I am in the hunt for a good ol BBQ joint near my office. There is always the famous Hecky's, but that isn't really doing it for me. I am glad I tried Soul and Smoke for Mardi Gras. I will be back for some BBQ. I went with the Chicken Gumbo with shrimp added. While I thought it was a little overpriced for what I got, the food was still good. The shrimp addition was a little worrisome, but I felt that I got alot of shrimp meat for the cost. The flavors were also there. I think what will make me go back is the service. Everybody seemed friendly and happy to be there. My stuff was also packaged beautifully which is a big PLUS for getting carryout. I think they are working on the building to me a more proper restaurant. It looks like they have a few tables inside, but this is mostly a carryout place. The only real downside is that the food is a bit expensive and the parking stinks. Still, the food was tasty so cost becomes a bit subjective. I really liked my food and will be back for the regular menu! read more