Smoque shack

I have heard many people talk about Smoque Shack, and they all keep telling me that I need to go there.  How can I turn down the request to eat large quantities of smoked meat!

Smoque Shack was created by Chef Warren Sutherland who used to be the chef at Sweetgrass Bistro.  The restaurant is located in Byward Market off York Street.  When you walk in, you are greeted by a long bar area where you can see part of their philosophy at work right away.  On tap is a good selection of local breweries.  We had to wait about 5 mins for a table so we sat at the bar for a drink where by the time we got our beers, our table was ready.  I do like how the bartender told us he would push our beers over to our table, and not have to settle up with him.  I very much like not having the hassle of settling up with the bartender while waiting for your table.

The place was busy and bustling.  The dining area had wood paneling on the walls with a few flat screen TVs.  The main dining area was not big, but it fit a good number of people.  When it came to the food, there was a good selection of what they smoke.  The main three meats were there: beef, chicken and pork, all in different forms.  When the server arrived, he gave us all the information about the menu we needed, also highlighting the meat sampler and was very knowledgeable on questions we asked about sides and sauces.  I ordered the rib tips for an appetizer with  sweet chili sauce and we all got samplers.  I got the pork back ribs, the jerk chicken and the pulled pork while my "boss" also picked the brisket.  For sides, we had beans, southern style greens, sweet potato fries and onion rings.  The rib tips arrived first and we all dove in as the smell of the dining area was making us all salivating.  There was a good number of them, enough that 4 people could share.  The sweet chili sauce was a good recommendation by the server as we kept the sauce for later and had to fend off the other serving staff wanting to clear our empty pate.  As for my meat main, I picked to start with the pulled pork.  The meat just flaked off and the flavour was oozing out.  The jerk chicken had a very good kick to it.  If you are not a fan of some heat, do not have the jerk.  I did like it.  The ribs were good, but it played an easy third fiddle to the other two selections.  It actually played forth as when the "boss" let me have some of her brisket, all I could say was wow.  The brisket was my favourite of all of them.  The meat was cooked perfectly, lots of infused flavours, and just melted in my mouth.  The sides were good as well, but with all the meat and meat sweats we were all having, they did not get a full appreciation.  By the end of the meal, I had a good sweat on.  I am not sure if it was because the A/C  could not keep up with our heat, or that the jerk chicken was winning.

The thing that irked me a little was the costs for sides.  No sides come with your meal, and getting a side was in my opinion a little over priced.  I did not expect coming here would be cheap, but it was a little more than I expected, and even after the meal, I didn't feel like the price matched what I got in food.  It was not off by much, but just enough for it to be noticeable.

Everything we had was delicious and the serving staff and atmosphere was very well suited for the smoque shack theme.  I am not sure if I would go back on my own volition, but at the same time, if someone came up to me and asked if I wanted to go, I probably would, just to eat that brisket again.

Review (out of 5):

Food: * * * 1/2

Value: * * * 1/2
Atmosphere: * * * *
Service: * * * *
Price (dinner): $6 - $24
Website: http://www.smoqueshack.com/index.html

Roost: The Urban Smokehouse

The idea of starting these reviews started a few months ago, but really came to the front after last night.

Out in the east end of Ottawa, there is a small place called the Roost: The Urban Smokehouse. If you've been out there, it's located right beside The Works. We've been to The Works many times out there, and each time we go into The Works, the Roost is usually empty. As tempted as we've been to go in and try it out, we've always sided with what we like. Recently, we got an invitation to a re-opening. Roost had a re-vamped menu, and was giving away free sample platters for free. What a great idea to help spread the word out! The lineup was out the door, and the place was packed with people all having the same idea...What is this place about?

The atmosphere there was very well done. It was not too dark inside, but the decor made the place look similar to what you would think a smoke house might look like. The place was clean, and the serving staff was very polite and courteous. The wait for the drinks was quick, and they have the same beer and milkshakes as The Works. While waiting for our platter, we took a quick glance at the "new" menu. It had your typical chicken in quarters, halves and whole, ribs, and chicken wings. Overall, the menu was what you would expect to get in a roast chicken joint, but there was not much more there. The prices were not cheap, and in my opinion, slightly overpriced for chicken and ribs.

Our platter came with a little mix of everything. We got some ribs, a quarter chicken, some wings, onion rings, fries, cornbread, and some chicken sauce. The portion was big, and I was hungry and ready to delve into this feast.

The food was good...but that's it. It was not great, it did not blow me away. After eating it, and thinking about the prices it would have cost me to eat one of those, I would have felt a little gypped. The ribs were decent, but we've made better at home. The chicken was well cooked and moist, but tasted...well, like what you would get at a supermarket for $9.99. The dipping sauce was different, but St. Hubert's is still better. The best part of it all, was the onion rings...which are the same ones you'd get if you went to The Works.

Overall, the food was decent, but I would not go back. The price was too high for the value of the food. On the bright side, all the tips went to help support breast cancer. Good job on that! Sorry Roost, the new menu just does fly...


Review (out of 5):
Food: * *
Value: * *
Atmosphere: * * * *
Service: * * * *
Price Range: $8-$25
website: http://www.roostchicken.com/