Had the most amazing meal at Whiskey & Rye! Received such friendly service and great recommendations from Mandy. Overall, just a great dining experience! read more

TLDR: Order the corn bread and brisket, skip the sampler, service was nothing special. We've been here twice in one week. Corn bread made me experience heaven. Crust was done beautifully, spice was apparent, but played a small role in comparison to the butter and perfect sweetness of the cornbread. I've had cornbread from the South; I think this is the best cornbread I've ever had. Whoever makes the cornbread should be praised heavily and possibly have a statue built for them. Meat was cooked very well. Brisket and Chicken were exceptionally good and should be the main priority due to their tenderness and flavor. However, the ribs were okay at best, a little chewy not really what you would expect from a place like this. Pulled pork was automatically covered in Carolina Gold which was a little questionable, but the texture and the quality of the meat were very good. Sides were exceptionally good as well. The mac and cheese, fries, potatoes, and slaw were pretty freakin sweet I'd say. They compliment the entrées pretty well. Please provide more options of sauce OR do not put the carolina gold on the pulled pork. Service was alright at most, nothing really special. The busser's checked up on us more than the actual servers. If you need accommodations they're happy to provide and do so in an efficient manner. It seemed like the service was mainly reactive rather than proactive. Cornbread alone gives this place five sha-bangs outta five. we are coming back to grab cornbread, if you're trying anything in Solvang surprisingly this would be a good place to go. read more

While the service was excellent, pretty much everything else wasn't great. Food: their brisket is absurdly fatty and cut in thick slices that leave it tough to chew. Almost completely flavorless. Drinks: ordered double Palomas. If there was alcohol in them, I'd be surprised. They tasted like grapefruit soda pop. I didn't pay over twenty bucks for a Fresca. read more

This is the type of place that exceeds all your expectations. Mostly because you go and thinking it's going to be somewhere between average and good, but then it turns out being great. The showstoppers for me were the ribs, elote spears mac & cheese, and loaded fries. The brisket and the pulled pork were very good as well, definitely recommend the meat plate. The only thing that wasn't so good was the Burger. Why so much arugula? Why? What is it with the arugula? There was probably a 3 to 1 arugula to burger ratio I can't imagine even the biggest arugula lover to like that much arugula. Reset on the arugula. read more

Had lunch today at Whiskey N' Rye Smokehouse. Kat the hostess seated us at a nice table inside the outdoor patio. Ruby was our server and provided quality service with a smile and Jake delivered our meals. My wife had the smokehouse burger and I had the chicken sandwich. Both meals were good. A nice day in Solvang. Recommended. read more

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Got recommendations from the girl behind the ice cream counter that this was her favorite place for dinner. Kinda sounded like a bar to me but it was a popular restaurant with available parking behind the restaurant. Our server took our orders which arrived shortly after. We had an outdoor table that just escaped the strong late afternoon sun like some other tables who were squinting their eyes. I ordered a bit too much: half rack of ribs with cole slaw, sweet chili and salt and vinegar wings, Cesar salad. read more

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Haiku: Whiskey N Rye Smokehouse Nice spot in Solvang Came for the Easter prix fixe The bar is a vibe. --- Staying in Solvang, I was craving some BBQ and found this place. However, the night that we came, they were only serving their Easter prix fixe dinner. I was at least hoping their popular baby back ribs or smoked beef brisket would be on the menu. (The ribs were only on the kids' menu). Despite not being able to order their BBQ, the star of the prix fixe meal items was the Grilled Salmon. It was perfectly cooked--moist, flaky, and tender. The seasoning was on point, too. The Coffee & Chili-Crusted Filet Medallions sounded good on paper, but it was quite dry. My kid loved her ribs and fries from the kids' menu. They were meaty, tender, and full of flavor. Their desserts were a treat. The Smoked S'mores Mousse was decadent. The Banana & Bourbon Bread Pudding was dense, but was moist and flavorful. The restaurant itself had a masculine and rustic interior. There's a full bar, and I bet it's a popular spot to watch sports games. Service was attentive at the beginning, then waned as the meal progressed. Maybe it was because she was ending her shift and wanted to go home? After that, everything we needed, like boxes or paying the bill, was handled at the bar. read more

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Whiskey 'N Rye is one of our go to places for happy hour when we visit Solvang. The signature cocktails, outstanding shareable (filet mignon tips and loaded Mac and cheese), and the personable staff make Whiskey 'N Rye a perfect place to talk, relax, and take in Solvang . read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Peachy Old-Fashioned and Maple Bacon Old-Fashioned. - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

We came in on a Saturday night and grabbed a couple seats at the bar. Service was fantastic. It was attentive and fast. They have TVs, but we're unable to put the Dodgers game on for us. Which was fine. The decor is beautiful. I would say average noise and pretty busy on a Saturday night. They do close at nine though so it doesn't get crazy like everything else in Solvang. The food was good. We really enjoyed the cornbread and the fried pickles. We also tried the burnt ends and the Caesar salad salad. Both were good, but nothing amazing. The cocktails were my least favorite part. It seems like they pre-batch their Old Fashioneds. They were able to give my husband tastings of them and they were all extremely sweet. So I went with a boulevardier instead, which was also too sweet. I probably stick with beer or wine next time. read more

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My friend and I wanted to grab a bite to eat after zip lining in Buellton, CA before heading back to Santa Barbara. We were really not in the mood for wine and thought this would be a perfect stop based on reviews. The restaurant was very nice with indoor and patio seating. It was a gorgeous day so we sat at the high top on the patio. Ashleigh introduced herself, very nice and attentive. I ordered and Espresso Martini and my friend ordered beer. We shared a Smoked Beef Brisket with a side of Fries and a Caesar Salad. The plate came out fast along with our drinks. We both thought the salad was OK. The fries were delicious. The Beef Brisket tasted really good and was tender, but unfortunately the 3 pieces that we were served were very fatty at $37. didn't cut it... Sorry. Would we try again, not sure, though drinks were good, maybe try the burger. Judge for yourself. Atmosphere: very nice laid back feel. Service: excellent. Food: fatty for the price not a good value. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Espresso Martini - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

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This place is always a chill spot to come to and have a quick drink at the bar or even dinning on the patio. Service was great. The waiter was on point with our order. The old fashioned flight was tasty the peachy was surprisingly a favorite, the local whiskey flight Is always a go too, the bamble berry was surprisingly refreshing and light, the zero proof spicy watermelon was fresh and not spicy at all. The dirty fries are so tasty, a lot of flavor slight spicy but not enough to over power the flavor. Definitely a top suggestion if you're out in Solvang. read more

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My husband and I come to Solvang 3 times a year and have always wanted to eat here because it's always crowded and has good reviews. I really wanted to like this place but was disappointed. I was excited to try the brisket but unfortunately it was extremely fatty! There was 3 pieces, the 1st piece was fine with mostly meat, the second piece was mostly fat with little meat and the third piece was a pile of fat. I understand brisket has some fat but I couldn't eat most of because it was all fat. Advice to the manager, make sure the cooks are only serving pieces that have thick pieces of meat, not fat. My husband got the filet, which was good, but don't expect a nice piece of thick meat you would get at a steak house. Go to the Hitching Post for that. The sides and fried pickles were good. The cookie dessert was also disappointing, it was very thin and covered in too much caramel sauce. Get the sauce on the side. Best thing about this place was the service! *Tip: if you want a casual cool place to eat go to the Craft House that's our favorite spot. Food never disappoints. read more

Never disappoints! We go yearly and always order the same items because we crave it all year. Definitely trying getting a reservation ahead of time but dog friendly and kid friendly! read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Mac and cheese with brisket Fries with brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

This was a nice spot that we tried out. The wait was not too long to get seated. The staff was wonderful and the food was delicious. My husband got the brisket burger and it was melt in your mouth good. I got the mignon salad and the steak was cooked perfectly. The average meal was $25-30 a person. A little pricey but the food was excellent. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Filet Mignon Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

This place is the best. I am so glad I found this place. Service is great. I love the drinks. The brisket fries are unreal. The food is excellent. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Whiskey menu - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

We came into town for anniversary and were looking for a place that would be good for dinner, with a casual vibe. Every time a shop owner would ask where we were from and why we came to Solvang, we told them it was our anniversary, and asked where we should eat. They all said Whisky and Rye. They were right. We were able to get a table for two that was in the back corner, our server was attentive and checked in on us often, keeping glasses full and making several on point recommendations. We had the beet salad (I don't like beets - but this salad was really good - so I found beets I like, I guess) and the sampler. It was all so good. Special shout out to the salad and the grilled corn. It was all really good but both were different than anywhere else. We will definitely be back again the next time we're in town. read more

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My overall experience here was very good! My husband and I took our nephew and ate inside. Outside is nice and cute, inside was nice as well. It's not too big of a place, I'd imagine they get pretty busy on a weekend. The service was wonderful, our server was very kind. The food was tasty. We got the brisket dirty fries(it's a shareable and definitely good enough for 2 people or 3 to share along with another dish).. we got the smoke house burger as well. They have a kids menu, just ask your server. Definitely a good place to goto. I'd recommend! Try it out! read more

Nice little bbq place. Ribs were tasty but the smokehouse burger so worth it. Also enjoyed the elote salad. read more

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The service was amazing and the food was out fast! The atmosphere is pretty chill and a nice place to relax in Solvang. The quality and selection were great. It was busy but worth the wait and a great option is you have your furry family member with you. read more

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Our hostess tonight was so warm and welcoming. She greeted us with a smile, and when she saw that we were hesitant, she reassured us that there's a table inside that she'll clean for us. She seated us promptly and asked about our days. The fifth star was for her! The fried pickles were crispy and flavorful without being too much. The loaded mac and cheese was the perfect amount of seasoning. The entrees were good. I'm not a big fan of ribeye, but I enjoyed it so much! It was tender and cooked perfectly. I feel like it was cooked Philadelphia style (my preferred style of steak), which is very difficult to do. My table enjoyed both the burger and the sampler, but I was way too full to take a bite. The cheesecake was good! My table pretty much killed it within minutes~ The restaurant is small, cute, and western themed. I can't wait to come back! read more

This is one of the most recommended places if you ask the locals in the town, and that's always a good sign. It's on the corner of Copenhagen Street, and outdoor seating had a nice cozy vibe with heaters in the patio setting. We chose to sit inside as it was a little chilly in the evening. The staff was super helpful and very patient, as we struggled to finalize an order. They even changed my order after I put it in. The ribs were great, and their homemade bbq sauce hits the spot. We ordered the seasoned fries and Mac n cheese as sides, and they were amazing too. The fries did have a spicy kick to it, and Mac n cheese were fresh and creamy. The only nitpicking I'd do with the ribs is they were slightly dryer on the outside, but no complaints other than that. read more

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Solid BBQ spot in the heart of Solvang! The brisket and pulled pork were tender and smoky. Outdoor seating is cozy and there are heaters at every table for the chilly nights; and the service was friendly. Skip the Danish pastries for a day and come here for some real bbq! read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

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We were greeted and seated immediately on the patio, and our server was very friendly and attentive. We ordered drinks, which were very good. Our appetizer was fried pickles. They were crisp and well seasoned, but quite greasy. We were unable to finish due to the puddle of grease on the plate. Luckily, entrees came before we would have finished the pickles. The glazed salmon and beans were very good. My wife really enjoyed her meal. The brisket chili and cornbread were also quite good. My daughter's only negative comment was "not spicy enough." She thought is was a bit bland. The brisket had me worried. I'm from Texas and admittedly snobby about brisket. I thought I was going to be completely disappointed, but I was pleasantly surprised by the three slices under the first slice. The first slice was very dry, but the slices under it were very tasty and moist and tender. I think the top slice may have dried out under the lamp, but that's only a guess. I was happy the brisket was redeemed. The Mac n cheese was creamy and delicious. I would recommend, with the warning that it is a bit pricey compared to Texas, but it IS California, so I expected things to cost a bit more. Definitely go try it out for a casual evening in Solvang. read more

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A cute smokehouse in an adorable Danish town. We came on a Thursday and were seated right away. We ordered two drinks that came out quickly and I decided on the chicken sandwich and my friend got fries with bbq on top. The chicken sandwich was good but I have had better. The drinks were very good. I'd love to come back and try more of their menu. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Chicken sandwich with Mac n cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

We were visiting from out of town and decided to try this place and it didn't disappoint! My husband and I shared the bbq trio, Cesar salad, corn bread and brisket dirty fries. Everything tasted amazing and the service was great, fast and friendly! read more

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First stop in Solvang and most memorable place of my trip!The ribs were delicious! No reservation, wait was about 15-20 minutes on Thursday 7pm which is pretty good. Note, went during restaurant week. Restaurant week option ($30) for 3 course meal, and additional $20 for drinks flight. Ordered half-rack of baby back ribs and smoked brisket with garlic smashed potato and seasoned fries. The restaurant has a great indoor and outdoor flow. Awesome customer service too! Salad plates were awesome size and tasted delicious. The baby back ribs were delicious, the flavor was awesome. Half a ribs were about 9 pieces, the meat was tender and easy to eat. Seasoned fries were basic, so go for the garlic smashed potato. The drink called puncher's mule was tasty, tasted sweet like apple pie. The smokehouse contains delicious bbq, great portions, and awesome staff service. Definitely will come back for the brisket or ribs. read more

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Great spot if you're in the Solvang area. Can't believe I've missed it before. Happened to be Restaurant Week so I was able to get the special for $30 that included a Farm Salad, half rack of baby back ribs and a side, plus a chocolate smoked S'mores Mousse. All yummy! Bartender / server was attentive, as were several other staff who helped and ran the food. I was a solo diner so I sat at the bar, but inside was pretty busy for a random Tuesday night. Cute property. Happy hour ended at 530 which I just barely missed. I wlll make sure to come back next time I'm in town! read more

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Absolutely loved our server but the food was just okay. We were recommended this place by a local. As someone who also worked in the service industry, I loved our waitress. She had great suggestions; super knowledgeable about the drink and food menu. As for the ribs and brisket, we were rather disappointed. The ribs and brisket were a little dry. Ribs tasted better day two as leftovers. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - 1/2 baby back ribs & brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

Stopped in with my wife and family just after their opening on Tuesday. Believe we might have been first in the door. Though my wife and I have visited Solvang many times in the past, this place was not around. We were all very happy with our visit! We opened with cocktails, mine was the Maple Bacon Old Fashioned. That cocktail was delicious! No started were wanted by the majority put I would have liked to try their fried pickles. Our brother in law ordered the Brisket, while his wife and I both ordered the Cobb Salad, and my wife a side of Macaroni & Cheese. Our dishes came relatively quickly. I must say the Cobb Salads were HUGE! Not only huge but delicious as well! The Brisket was amazing according to our brother in law and my wife enjoyed the Mac &Cheese. We all look forward to coming back again! read more

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Came here on MLK and made reservations on Open Table but since we were there at opening -- we were good. They have a nice patio as well as indoor seating. Very good service and they didn't mind our small dog -- very accommodating. We both split the brisket sandwich which was good. Though I thought it would have been more like slices then pulled but still good. They gratefully split it for us and we also had a side ceasar salad and a beer. Great little spot in Solvang if you are wanting bbq. Wish I could have tasted more. Great spot to come and get some lunch or dinner and they do do brunch on weekend so come hungry! read more

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First, they don't take reservations on the weekend. What? Upon arrival, the hostess greeted us warmly. She informed us that the wait was about 20-minutes. There were a couple of seats open at the bar so we opted to grab them. Turns out the menu at the bar is the same as dining seating. Given how attentive the bartender was, we should have just stayed at the bar. Once seated, Michelle took great care of us. She answered all of our questions with a smile. We went with the spaghetti squash and filet. Both were fantastic! The smashed potatoes side was a garlic lovers delight. It's nice when the menu says "prime" describing the beef and it actually is prime quality. Great all around experience! Cheers! read more

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We were fortunate enough to walk in and get a table despite not having a reservations with no wait but had to sit a the short counter at the bar. We lucked out after grabbing our seats with an open spot at the high bar before we even had a chance to order a drink. There were lots of tables filled with very happy patrons so we were glad to find a quick and easy spot to grab dinner for the night. Both of our bartenders were wonderfully friendly and very attentive. They answered all our questions and made great suggestions. We peeked around at other tables to see what was most popular and we saw everything on the menu around us. Everyone seemed very happy with their food and lots of empty plates going back to the kitchen so we were very confident we'd be happy with our meals. We got the brisket w elote corn quarters and seasoned fries and the brisket chili and it was all very delicious. The portions were generously sized but not overly so which was perfect for us. Our meals came out so quickly and everything was just perfect. We walked there from our room so I don't remember seeing if there was any parking. I do know that there are tons of parking areas and street parking. I don't expect that parking would be an issue for anyone wanting to come in. We would definitely recommend stopping in for a drink and bite to eat as everyone was welcoming and friendly from start to finish. We look forward to returning the next time we're in Solvang! We're confident you'll be very happy if you decide to go check them out! Enjoy! read more

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(+) Host was very accommodating at the time for my large party of 12, even though we didn't have a lunch reservation. Chat GPT led us here honestly as we were planning the afternoon visit to Solvang. This is a popular place so plan on waiting or making a reservation. (+) Non alcoholic drinks were nice, forgot the name of the lemonade. Trying to cut back so nice to have a mocktail option. (+) Cast iron jalapeño cornbread and fried pickles were the favorite appetizers of the group. (+) Was craving brisket but didn't want a heavy plate so I went for the smoked brisket sandwich which was kinda small but good. (+) We were lucky with the nice weather and outdoor patio seating to people watch and enjoy the fresh air. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Fried pickles - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

Finally got to try the filet mignon tips and WOW! The smashed potatoes better than last time though still tasted shade gritty. Corn was amazing and the chicken wings were good! Highly recommend making reservations especially for dinner! Server was great - go book that dream travel trip, hon! They even gave us a comp birthday dessert for my ex-mil's bday!! read more

The food here was pretty good. I really like the brisket. Also thought they had exceptional chicken wings especially the lemon pepper one. The flavor really penetrated into the breading The service was good too but I think it was jsut one person working the whole patio area. I like the ambiance it had lots of Christmas decorations for the holidays read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

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Brisket was amazing. Mirah , the server was very helpful in helping this bday choose a meal. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Brisket as an add on a corn salad - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

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In short: upscale offerings at reasonable prices, and great service. I came here accompanied by my +1 and our little. We made reservations, got there a little bit late, but had already checked in via text so they were pretty accommodating. We ended up with a nice outdoor table. The weather was great so we really appreciated it. Service was prompt, and our waitress gave us some good drink tips. I tried a pear mile, which was decent but not that strong. I squeezed the lime garnish into it, but unfortunately that drowned out the other flavors. My next choice was the peach old fashioned, which was delicious. My +1 tried an espresso variety that was a lot stronger and had notes of butterscotch in addition to the coffee flavor. We both tried brisket, hers in a sandwich and mine straight. It was well cooked and delicious. We also enjoyed our sides. We also ordered a "children's" cheeseburger, but that was a full-sized slab of meat that was well cooked. I had to help finish it, but I wasn't complaining. Overall, we had a great time and left satisfied. I think we'd make a point to come back again. read more

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Loved the brisket and chili! The brisket is tender and prepared well! The cornbread is excellent. We sat outside in a covered patio so we didn't see the inside, but the patio was pleasant and comfortable. We so appreciated Lacy, who served us. She made great recommendations, was very attentive, and very kind and friendly!! She represented Whisky N Rye very well. read more

I've been here several times, and it NEVER disappoints! Brandei and Mandy (the dynamic duo) were awesome! Great customer service! The steak bites, the Mac n Cheese (I ordered x2)!! The Caesar Salad, the carrot cake!! Oh my!!! read more

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Amazing find in the small town of Solvang. We came here for early lunch and the food was great. Everything seasoned to perfection. Server was also very attentive during our visit. The parking lot is located at the back and it's quite ample considering there isn't many places to park in Solvang. Definitely on my top 3 places to eat at again while in Solvang. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California