I hate writing reviews with no photos to attach, but here I am. Figured it's best to show this place some love that's off the beaten path! There are only a handful of businesses in Kittredge, a humble unincorporated town outside of Evergreen and Morrison (closer to the former). And shockingly, most of the businesses are great! This is another creekside restaurant and what's not to love about that? I've never actually dined in, only gotten takeout a few times. Doesn't change the fact that they are doing something right in the kitchen! At Switchback, they have the MEATS. As all good BBQ places should. My last meal consisted of their brisket, sausage, and mac and cheese. I really enjoyed everything I had. The sausage may have been my favorite, it was extremely juicy. Brisket is the best BBQ meat and theirs (even takeout) was tender and tasty. Like many BBQ places, the hours and quantities are limited. And for being in a remote unincorporated town you can't fault them for that. Take a scenic drive out this way and score some yummy 'que!!! read more

This place has indoor/outdoor seating AND allows dogs!!! Amazing! There is limited outdoor seating near the stream which is nice We sat inside bc it was rainy and cold. Very basic no frills bbq shop. They were out of some of their popular foods when we got there We got pork chops- the two guys liked them a lot. I wasn't a huge fan Mac and cheese- disappointingly tasteless Pulled pork sandwich- I really liked this one read more

Ribs and sides were excellent! the subtle smoky flavor is present but not obnoxious and that's a big plus. The sliced brisket came out looking like corned hash or sliced lunchmeat. I'm still hoping that was the correct thing we ordered(?). The sauces were flavorful but between the standard, root beer bbq and mule, they all tasted nearly the same. All the sauces were super viscous and running so we had to be careful when applying said sauces. We ordered Mac (shells) & cheese and coleslaw for sides and they were both delicious. Wouldn't change a thing. Service was great and hospitality is A+! Being next to a river is a huge plus too. The only downside is the road's proximity is just as close as the river so you will hear both the calming water and even cars zipping by. I plan to stop by again in the near future and try other things. BBQ, sauces and sides are all very subjective. This places lands at the top of my list but still has a couple shortcomings. Crossing fingers next time for sure! read more

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Stopped by here before a hike and had a wonderful experience. We ordered the chicken breast, potato salad, the duck and goat cheese salad, brussels sprouts, and salmon. Everything was very tasty with the tiniest of complaints about the brussels sprouts, being a little hard. However, they still had a good flavor. We prefer soft brussels sprouts but that can absolutely be just personal preference. The price was also on the slightly higher end although I do believe it's worth the price of admission. Overall, would recommend and would absolutely come back here again in the future. read more

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We ordered the brisket and I've never seen brisket sliced so thin. It did have a good flavor though. The Mac and cheese was disappointing it was not homemade it looked and tasted like velvetta shells. The service was good. read more

Excellent. Found myself getting hungry while exploring Red Rocks and found this place after wanting to take a ride into the foothills. Just ordered a little bit of everything that was available! All fantastic and will be back again to try everything I missed out on! read more

The restaurant is situated beside a small stream which was nice. Most of the seating is outside along with the stream. We had the Devil's Elbow with sweet potato fries, smoked salmon, and a Rueben. It was good with the standard sauce. The cole slaw was meh but we are very picky with Cole slaw. It is a great place to have some BBQ in the mountains on a beautiful day. read more

As you can see from these photos, this is how we received our food. literally just thrown into a box. I really don't understand the hype around this place, but i guess everyone is different. Not only were our sandwiches "deconstructed" upon arrival, but the server messed up the order from jump street. We stated no tomatoes due to allergy, we received tomatoes. We asked for ranch dressing, we received no ranch dressing. We also received no straws or napkins. We will not be back as it is blatantly obvious that the employees and or owners have let quality slide and the current standards are below subpar. read more

Switchback Smokehouse - This is how switchback serves its customers - Smokehouse Near Me - Kittredge, Colorado

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Very friendly. Good bbq. We got the pulled pork sandwich with fried pickle and slaw. It was nicely pulled but I had a bone shard in my sandwich. The pork wasn't particularly smoky flavored but the bbq sauce was pleasanr We got the beans side and Mac n cheese. Beans were good but I didn't like the black beans in them. The smoked wings are amazing! read more

Highly recommend. Great location, owner is a really nice guy. Most importantly, the food was excellent! We were driving up the 74 toward Evergreen Lake, and smelled it before we saw it. I glanced over and saw the big BBQ's in action, and we decided to have lunch there on the way back, and I'm SO glad we did. Very enjoyable to have lunch under a tree, right next to Bear Creek. And again. food was excellent. Perfectly cooked meats, a variety of tasty sauces on the table, and great slaw. Totally worth it. read more

Is it me or was this place way better a few years ago? I had the pork sandwich which was dry and very bland and I remember it being so good a few years ago. What happened? Hopefully it was a one off issue. read more

Ordered the Devil's Elbow sandwich and Sliced Smoked Duck to go. Service was friendly and efficient. The Devil's Elbow was good. Lots of moist pork and fried pickles. Without sauce, I went with the Catamount Gold, it was pretty bland. It's a personal preference, but I like to taste some dry rub in my pulled pork. The Sliced Smoked Duck was INSANELY DELICIOUS! It is not just the best smoked duck I have ever had, which it definitely was, but possibly the best duck I have ever had. I am no newbie when it comes to duck. I usually order it if it's on the menu and make it myself, including on my Traeger. I made dinner around the smoked duck the next day, with asparagus, maitake mushrooms, sweet onions and hatch chiles. So good! Due note the limited hours, but if you are nearby when they are open, definitely give them a try. The creek setting is a very nice bonus. read more

Switchback Smokehouse - Sliced smoke duck(from the Switchback) with asparagus, maitake mushrooms, sweet onions and hatch chiles (from my kitchen). - Smokehouse Near Me - Kittredge, Colorado

Really good food, wonderful location, huge portions. Would recommend for the perfect Sunday.

Wowza! This place was good! Me and The Hubs (both retired) like to take scenic drives through Kittredge and Evergreen periodically but we usually do it mid-week and on days when this place isn't open (not intentionally, of course). Well, that's going to change! When we arrived a little after 1 PM we noted while we were walking up to the front of the restaurant that there was a very large outdoor patio with plenty of shaded seating available. A very personable restaurant staff member was outside the door taking orders as we walked up. After perusing the menu of what was available (note: some items were already sold out at 1:15-ish, like the smoked duck breast - sigh, maybe next time), we ordered the following to share: 1/4 pound each pulled pork and brisket, 1/2 rack of ribs, one slice of bacon, 8 oz each baked beans, cucumber salad, and the seasonal vegetable which was grilled asparagus, and two pieces of Texas toast. And yes, we were stuffed by the time we left. Everything was fabulous, but if I had to choose one standout, it would be the ribs. They were very nicely smoked and super tender. The meat came off the bone very easily but it wasn't like some ribs that have been cooked so long that they border on mushy. These were perfect! The baked beans were good, as well - not the overly sweet variety (just slightly sweet and made with two kinds of beans). Again, everything was fresh and delicious. After you order your food, they give you a number and then bring out your food. While waiting, find table and then go to the condiment station and get paper plates, utensils, napkins, water, pickles, peppers, and sliced onions for your meal. They have four flavors of sauce on the tables. We didn't use any on our food (nothing needs any sauce), but we did taste them and all were very good. The patio was super relaxing under the trees and right next to a creek. We went just recently so the patio was a relaxed post-summer atmosphere. Most important of all, I can't think of anything to complain about. They even had clean, well-stocked restrooms! read more

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Visiting friends while in CO and after our hike i was told about this place! The menu offered a great variety of options, including brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and smoked chicken. I opted for the brisket and was blown away by the tenderness and flavor of the meat. The sides were also fantastic, with standout dishes like the mac and cheese and the collard greens. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, making me feel right at home. The atmosphere of the restaurant was also great, with a cozy and casual vibe that was perfect for a weekend meal with friends. read more

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I recently moved to this general area and passed by this gem several times. The aromas coming from the smokers is totally inviting. Today I was able to eat there for the first time and it totally lived up to the other rave reviews on Yelp. I was a party of one and it was difficult to decide what to get. I chose the half rack of St Louis Ribs, 8oz cowboy beans and an ice tea. The woman who took my order was very nice and gave me instructions on where I could sit and also find napkins and utensils. They have plenty of outdoor seating along a flowing creek and many trees. Just beautiful. My order was delivered to my table in less than 10 minutes. The ribs were smoked and seasoned perfectly!! 7 bones of lean, tender, juicy but not overly fatty ribs. On the table were large bottles of their 4 types of sauces. All excellent and really complement the meat. The beans were a mixture of pinto and black beans. They were very good. The tea was clearly fresh brewed. I'm looking forward to returning and trying some of their other menu items. read more

Best Smokehouse! I called ahead to see how they were handling guests. They recommended ordering our food in advance and they would save us a table. When we arrived our food was packaged as a to go, but we got to sit at a small table next to the creek. This is my fourth time visiting Switchback, first time as a Colorado resident and it was better then ever! FAST-C review Food: AMAZING! We preordered Pulled Pork, Brisket, Chicken Breast, Waffle Fries and Fried Giardinera, with one of each of their great BBQ sauces. Root Beer is our favorite. Of course we had to add a couple of IPA's. All the meats had a great smoke. Waffle Fries & Fried Giardinera were crisp and flavorful! Atmosphere: There is only outdoor seating available, first serve basis. It is February so it was cold, but love sitting by their creek and enjoying a great beer and smoked meats. Service: I didn't get our hosts name, but she took our order over the phone and sat us when we got there. She was really nice! One of the chefs also poked his head out the back door to check on us and make sure everything was great. While we were leaving another person also poked his head out to thank us for stopping by. You couldn't ask for a friendlier place! Tips: During Covid, call ahead with your order and time you will be by and everything will be ready fir you when you get there, to either sit down outside or to take with you. Covid: everyone was wearing masks, chefs were wearing gloves, no indoor seating, so if your going to eat there and outside plan ahead for your own warmth. read more

Switchback Smokehouse - Brisket, Pulled Pork, Chicken Breast, Waffle Fries, Fried Giardinera & two IPA's - Smokehouse Near Me - Kittredge, Colorado

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Food: ... okay Service: great Decent size, kind of ugly inside. No decor. Food was acceptable. Not really good, not horrible read more

Wonderful ice cream shop; tried the salty caramel which was lovely. However it tasted more like vanilla bean ice cream, couldn't taste the caramel. Will try another flavor next time. Recommend giving this delightful shop a try! read more

Switchback Smokehouse - Smokehouse Near Me - Kittredge, Colorado

My friend came here with her boyfriend a few years ago and fell in love with this place. I finally moved to Colorado in December and they came up to visit so obviously they took me to come try Switchback! I'm from Texas and I love barbecue but I truly never eat barbecue unless someone else offers it. I take pride in being a macaroni connoisseur so that was my main mission when we decided to come here We all ordered different things so we could kind of have a buffett of options and it was absolutely outstanding!!! The duck breast was so good and tender. Ribs and Brisket were amazing as well. The macaroni....SO GOOD!!! But my overall favorite side was the Giardinera! Incredible flavor I loved it all! We also all got beer and sat by the river and there's truly nothing better than that...especially being from Texas because that's pretty much all we do. So it was a nice home feeling being there...just a little different with snow! read more

Switchback Smokehouse - a table full of food - Smokehouse Near Me - Kittredge, Colorado

The best bbq I've had in soooo long! Tender. Smoky. Loved eating by the river. We had pulled pork, macaroni and cheese (velveeta-ish but yummy), grilled asparagus and the duck sandwich. read more

Switchback Smokehouse - Duck sandwich - Smokehouse Near Me - Kittredge, Colorado

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Among my son's favorite foods are hot dogs and mac & cheese. The kids' menu at Switchback features these. Add good reviews, and we were excited to stop here for lunch What We Liked: Ambiance--We sat on a spacious patio about 10 feet from the rushing waters of Bear Creek. St. Louis style ribs--Juicy, well-smoked, acceptably meaty and delicious. Cucumber salad--tasty enough to bring the leftovers home Eddyline IPA, brioche bun, hot dog bun Mule BBQ sauce kicks as promised On the Fence: "Montreal style" Brisket was tasty and well smoked, but sliced so thin as to resemble pastrami. It makes a good sandwich, but they should offer this as more than lunch meat. Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage nicely balanced the two adjuncts, but there was minimal smoke flavor. What We Didn't Like: Ordering is outside on the street and you can't see the menu until you order. This may take a while as each party sees it for the first time. We felt pressured to choose quickly as a line built up behind us. You're given drinks, an order number table tent, and instructions to find a seat. Seating--There's simply not enough. All seats were taken when we ordered and parties began to collect behind us. The hostess did her sheepish best, "There should be a place to sit by the time your food's ready." Time--After ordering we stood for 20 min before a table opened. Our food took about 35 minutes from ordering. That's a long time. It's not ideal to wait three times before eating--to order, to sit, to eat. Hungry before arrival, I almost went to the car for a snack to tide me over. My son ate two bites of his hot dog & three of mac and cheese before pushing them away (he did finish the bun). I tasted each--flavorless. Don't bother. Prices: Bring your wallet. Brisket is $11 for 1/4lb and $40/lb. Franklin's in Austin only charges $34/lb... Not my speed. VMMV. 2.5 stars. read more

Switchback Smokehouse - Smokehouse Near Me - Kittredge, Colorado

I haven't been here in awhile but I need to write a review because I tell everyone to come here if they are even close to coming this way. Everything about this place is fantastic. I've been a few times and each time I get something different then try what my group got as well because we always share and have a Smorgasbord of food! I have never had a bad meal here and can say everything I have had tastes great! The ribs, pulled pork, duck, chicken, sausage, etc are all phenomenal. The sides are all amazing too This place gets packed fast so plan accordingly. I will say though, the wait is well worth it for the food! They also run of food on busy days so try and come early! The location couldn't be any better either as they are right on the river and even inside you can hear the water which I love! The décor is cute too and has a homey feel to it! I love this place and always stop here when I am close! read more

Delicious! I always get the duck and sweet potato fries. Best BBQ around. Side note: go next door for the ice cream.

Awesome BBQ in a very relaxed setting. They have indoor and outdoor dining; we sat outside on their patio alongside the creek. BBQ had a nice smoky flavor as did the cowboy beans which were excellent! Several sides to chooose from, and all were great but we thought the cowboy beans and mac 'n cheese were the best. Meal was more expensive than I expected, $32 for two people with only one soft drink and not including tip. read more

Switchback Smokehouse - BBQ with several sides. Cowboy beans took centerstage and were awesome!! - Smokehouse Near Me - Kittredge, Colorado

This is my favorite restaurant. Truly such a blessing to have them in our small town. I've been coming here for many years, since they opened. Can't get enough of the duck. You can't go wrong with literally any of the meat from here. The Devil's Elbow is a go-to. The cowboy baked beans are so good. The Switchback Standard bbq sauce is addictive. I love to eat outside here in the summer. The service is always attentive and everyone is so kind. Be mindful if you go too late in the day they may be sold out of some items (high demand for delicious food!!). Well done all around, SS! read more

Switchback Smokehouse - Duck breast (1/2 lb), pulled pork (1/2 lb), bun, baked beans - Smokehouse Near Me - Kittredge, Colorado

I would give this place 6 stars if I could! Amazing service, incredible food/beverages and an impeccable atmosphere! Definitely coming back! read more

Switchback Smokehouse - Brisket Sandwich - Smokehouse Near Me - Kittredge, Colorado

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Positives: Almost everything. Unique menu and you can tell a vast majority is scratch made. Their bbq is spot on. House smoked bacon, YES! Smoked Duck Breast, HELL YES! Been here many times and never disappointed. Clean plates every time. Negatives: The hours. C'mon Y'all, hit me with a Wednesday lunch! That's all I got. Overall: One of the best hidden gems in Colorado. Their bbq is off the hook, and unique. Well done. read more

This company caterered our company party yesterday. The four and service was amazing! Loved the smoked Salmon!

I'm updating my review! Best bbq and no more attitude from staff! Man we love this place!

Best BBQ in the foothills! Really unique options that aren't what you typically find in BBQ restaurants. The chicken sandwich is my #1 favorite. The asparagus is great too. I'm not a big fan of the mac and cheese but about everything else has been great. Love the ambiance of sitting next to the creek as well. read more

Sitting next to the river drinking a craft beer while eating good bbq. Every bit as good as it sounds

We were visiting from Minnesota and hiking nearby and decided to stop at this cute little smokehouse called Switchback Smokehouse where you can sit right along a mountain stream and enjoy your cocktail and barbecue. We got the pulled pork and the barbecue ribs and some french fries and beans and everything was delicious. The staff was great as well. Then right next-door they have a little ice cream place called switchback sweets. A previous review I read said that they are only open June, July, August but we were there in the middle of May on a nice sunny day and they were open. I had the salted caramel ice cream and it's the best ever had. read more

A bunch of young bucks who make fantastic meat. It's for the most part all smoked but they have this figured out. Hell morentimes than not I will belly up to the bar and order 1 slice of smoked bacon to go with my beer (I'm healthy dont worry). Although due to covid I dont think bar is open now. Here's what you should do is call these cats 2 weeks before thanksgiving and order a smoked turkey or 2. Your family will think you are king of the grill. read more

A very simple place with awesome food! I'm a big fun of smoked duck breast and this place has probably the best smoked duck breast I ever tried. read more

Fun atmosphere, great service and the best BBQ anywhere; I love this place and so does everyone in my family!!

This was one of the first meals I had in my new neighborhood and it was absolutely delicious! Their hours may be a little weird because I rarely ever drive by and see them open, but I'm looking forward to getting to try it out again. If you're not from the area, it's definitely worth the drive. The smoked ribs and other meats were SO good. And don't forget to save room for ice cream at the little stand next door owned by the same family. read more

Mac and cheese Fried Brussels w/ a horseradish sauce Pulled Pork on a bun Ribs with pickles underneath Salmon with tomatoes, zucchini, and cabbage under All BBQ Sauces (mule= hot, Switchback= medium, and root beer= mild) Mustard- tangy Moscow Mule and vodka club sodas This was a great spot. Everything we are was delicious and the view of deers with the river was superb. We could t have asked for a better day. I asked the table what we thought the rating should be and it was 4.5 to 5 stars. I went with 5. This is a collective rating so not just individual. Drawbacks- not a lot of seating, only a few heat lamps if it's cold, etc. Really good for a family style type place. read more

Good bbq but sides were small and sauces limited. Have not eaten onsite in years and I think onsite sauces are much more plentiful. Bbq is good but check hours before traveling. read more

It has to be done. Before I can truly review this place, I must first serenade you with a song. Yes, a fine lil ditty sang to the tune of the late 90's hit classic, "Last Resort" from the band Papa Roach. Ahem: Rip my ribs into pieces, With just my hands and fork Side of coleslaw, Smoke duck breast. And a jar of sweet tea to wash down this meat fest!! (insert catchy guitar riff) And they have moist Pulled Pork!! Delicious moist Pulled Pork!! Right, now that I have thoroughly lubricated your ear holes, lemme get into this fine piece of meat mongering. So this is a place that had been driven by, more than a few times, and always remained curious about. Always curious because it's a BBQ place and we'd actually never seen it open. I mean, it's there, still standing and looking operational but never open. Finally curiosity won my GF and I over and we did this real idiot thing called look up their hours. Hot dog, it worked! We were now armed with knowledge! Now we needed meat. We did some menu research, because intellectuals, and general recon work and noticed a trend. A lot of people mentioned to come early, rather than later, because this place will sell out of stuffs. They only make what they plan to sell so it's recommended to be there before the hordes come. I'll be the first to say HEED THESE WORDS, my children. After having finally had this place give me a hot meat injection, I can see why it's a guarantee that they will sell out. They are making voodoo meat magic here. It's inappropriate and I need it, forever. We paid mind to the warnings and door busted the place. There was already a line forming, but we were still 3rd or 4th in line. It took a sec to figure out the set up but it was easy once they held our hands and Willy Wonka'd us through it. You step up to the booth, exchange high fives, order from what is on their wall of menu, grab your number, grab your drink, find a place to sit, mark your territory however you see fit, and wait. You can enjoy the freedom of sitting outside, next to Bear Creek, or sit in their covered area because nature sickens you, or you don't want to be rained on. You do you. We opted for outside. After a few minutes of basking in the sun, like the mighty Galapagos iguana, the meat train pulled in. It being our first visit we kept it a lil conservative. We had ribs, pulled pork, smoked duck breast, brisket, a sausage, coleslaw, waffle fries, some cucumber salad, and potato salad. You know...just dipping a toe in. (The future visit included bacon because I will never accepted your judgement of me.) From there we found food nirvana. All the meats were moist, and flavorful. Each had a unique flavor that told their own story but then those stories were drowned in BBQ sauce. They have a few different sauces and I recommend them as your beverage. The waffles fries were crisp and thick, and the salads added that cool, refreshing taste to break up the meat sweats before goin back in. It was just how meat Jesus prophesized it. We ended up leaving, wanting to come back later in the day. We didn't want to be done eating, regardless of the nonsense our weak, mortal bodies tried to tell us! In time we did return, and it was just as the first time, we needed it in our lives. Writing this, I need it again. Put it next to my bed, so I can roll over and naw a rib. Heaven. That's what it's like. Yeah. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, RECOMMENDED!! Eat up, minions! read more

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