★ 5

Our server, the young guy with blonde hair was engaging, attentive and we enjoyed talking with him. We ordered the burnt ends sausage sandwich with the tasty brussel sprouts and the beef brisket with the mac-n-cheese. The buns they came with were great quality. Desserts looked good, but we skipped it for walk to the Public Market to get dessert.

Interior was dark, so would be fine on a cold winter's night but glad we could spend our time outdoors on a warm fall evening.

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★ 3

Nice, cozy place for authentic BBQ. Typical BBQ joint set-up. Service was spot on. Meats are done right. Unfortunately, the portions are small and the brisket was mostly fat. Definitely not worth the price.

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★ 5

Super dog friendly, they brought a water bowl for him. Great food and atmosphere. Great service!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Excellent!

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★ 5

Absolutely amazing. The pulled pork haunts my dreams. Great smoke, clearly smoked for hours. You didn't need a fork or knife. If you looked at it sideways it fell apart. I also had the smoked chicken, which was amazing.

The service was awesome. Our server was friendly, really helpful and attentive. I loved that they were willing to make me an Arnold Palmer for the road. I want to go back and try their bourbon list!

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★ 5

We were new to the city and this place was so welcoming and served us the best food. Good portions and lovely ambiance. Highly recommended

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 4

Over all was not a bad experience. I got the brisket sandwich and it was overall pretty good. The two sides that I got were ok. Maybe would get the Mack cheese again but make sure it’s hot but the potato salad wasn’t that great.

Please would recommend that you all put brisket in your baked beans as an alternative and not pork please :)

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★ 5

Went for drinks and appetizers. What AMAZING service and food would definitely recommend to anybody!

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★ 5

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★ 5

We had a great experience at the Smoke Shack - our waitress Kaia was really attentive, brought everything quickly, checked up on us and even change the channel on the big screen TV so that we could watch the football game we wanted. Food was delicious:) make sure you try the Brussels sprouts! Serving size was fantastic and really good tasted like something we’ve had back in Texas. This place is easy to miss - feels like an authentic bbq joint nestled in between city buildings. Totally worth trying! Lots of indoor and outdoor seating.

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★ 4

Solid BBQ. They do have an actual smoke shack, which is a beautiful thing.

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★ 4

My husband and I came out for a date night here. The food was good, chicken is definitely a must try. But the brisket was dry unfortunately. The biggest downside was the service, we unfortunately got forgotten about. We were seated outside, spoke to the waitress but then no one came to check on us. It had been over 20 minutes and the restaurant was really slow so I was curious why we were waiting so long. I went inside to ask if we could order and our waitress realized she forgot about us and apologized. She was very kind, I was just taken back a little since there were only 3 parties dining at the time. Over all the food was pretty good.

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★ 5

Reasonable prices, good food and portions, tasty sauces!

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★ 4

Great service.
Friendly staff.
Good food.
Nice outside dining.

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★ 5

First time here and we will return.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Some of the best BBQ I've ever had and I've had some really good BBQ. I ordered the brisket and pulled pork. Both were incredibly tender and tasty on their own, but also with the different sauces they offered. If you want good BBQ this is the place to be. Allan was out server and did a great job. Will definitely be back again.

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★ 5

Great food friendly service.

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★ 5

We will be back again soon

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★ 2

Food was cold apon arrival, was flavorless and the ribs was over cooked was hard to chew . The waitress was kind told the manager our concern and Instead of offering new meat she offer to reheat the stuff , we did not mind but I think they should had offered new plates new meat because the reheating made the stuff more dry and harder even our pickles was dry out from being reheated. As this was our first time here I give it this rating only thing satisfied us was the corn bread. $116 bucks for burned hard ribs, cold food that was dry and flavorless . We didn’t want to complain about something else so left it as is. The plates handed to us in beginning that was I guess idk something we could use to place food was dirty . Would not be returning. They have good customer service , and attentive servers that go out their way to solve a problem and or get it fix but the food was flavorless , cold and bland.

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★ 5

ADORABLE little place with an amazing bourbon list. Also a super quaint patio.

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★ 5

This is the type of BBQ I love. It's not pretentious and is just delicious. I have never been disappointed popping in here. I love that it is a "hole in the wall" right in the middle of the third ward too!

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★ 3

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★ 5

Really loved the pulled pork I had
The only problem was they were out of several items
But I think that's to be expected with a popular barbecue place. So tasty, and enjoyed trying different styles of sauce.

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★ 5

Got sampler meal of all the bbq. We went there near the end of the night. The food was wonderful the staff was great and attentive. Soooo worth it. Must stop place in Milwaukee. Worth every penny. And trying all the different bbq sauces made it an experience. If you dont go there you're missing out.

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★ 5

Always a hidden gem in Milwaukee. They do a good job on food and service.

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★ 3

Cool restaurant in a great location. The food was very good. Our group had a little of everything. The brisket was my personal favourite while my wife loved the pulled pork. All of the available sides were tasty, but the sweet potato fries were a group favourite. The variety of sauces was impressive.

The down side was the service. It was super slow. Based upon my observations, this was rooted in a lot of chaos in the kitchen and insufficient staffing. Beverage service was delayed as well. We also had issues with several of the side dishes not being available, even after the entree's arrived (weird). Strangely, it took quite a while to get eating utensils for everyone in our group after the food arrived. This place missed the mark on a lot of the basics.

Prices were a bit higher than I would expect, but this is a high rent area.

I might try this place again if they are not busy. Unfortunately, it would not be on the top of my list.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great food!!! I would definitely recommend!

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★ 5

How I fell in love with MKE - my first experience here years ago. The vibe is super great from decor to the perfect soundtrack. Kaia treated us well and we had some unique cocktails. I will definitely go next time I pass thru Milwaukee.

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★ 5

Cornbread is phenomenal! 🤤 Good BBQ, great service!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Food was very good, bbq flavors weren’t my favorite but the meats were delicious. Workers are very friendly and it’s a very nice restaurant to visit

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★ 4

The sauces have decent flavor, although they're a little on the thin side. The carolina gold was especially tasty. There are more complex and rich sauces out there, but what Smoke Shack offers is enjoyable.

To me, the glaring issue here is that the portions are very small. The flavor of the chicken and pulled pork is fair, but for reference, the portion of chicken was maybe half a breast at best.

In terms of sides, the cornbread was great. Very sweet and moist, and (unfortunately) the only thing adequately portioned. The flavor of the mac and cheese was surprisingly good (compared to most BBQ places), though suffering from the same overcooked, slightly watery issue most have.

Despite a nice atmosphere and friendly staff, given the local competition, the portions and flavor don't match up to the price.

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★ 5

Love this place! Consistent and delicious - hallmark of any BBQ joint. Key factor: only dry-rub on everything with multiple sauces you can put on for yourself. My wife doesn't like _any_ sauce so this is one of the few places we can go to.

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★ 4

Shack? Yes. Smoke? Not so much.
the shack part of things is clearly visible from the street, the existence of the shack was never really in question for me. but not one person was smoking, not even in the outdoor section!

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★ 5

best BBQ in Milwaukee! all meats and sauces are made in house. highly recommend the brisket! happy hour is fun too
Lucas is good people

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★ 5

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★ 3

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★ 5

Great food, excellent location and atmosphere!

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★ 3

Mac n cheese was good, ribs were tough, brisket was dry. Service was great.

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★ 2

I ordered the 2 meat combo plate with brisket and pork, the pork & brisket were both extremely dry with no dry rub taste from any seasoning, it taste like the meat had been sitting under heat lamps all day with no moisture to keep it moist. The brisket egg rolls I ordered were phenomenal. & the customer service was very good.

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★ 5

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★ 2

This is a cute spot, rather nice atmosphere. However, we should have gotten the hint when we saw that the place was empty, but the city streets were rather busy with foot traffic.
The food was not good. As a member of an award winning Texas BBQ team, this is not the place to go. Our guests would not even finish their food.
My wife ordered lean brisket and it came out fatty (wet) and not even in slices. It looked as if it was put on her plate with a large icecream scoop. She didn't take more than three bites of anything on her plate.
Our server, although very nice, was not only a vegetarian working in a BBQ joint but knew nothing about the meat. I asked if the ribs were babyback or spareribs, and he responded that he didn't know what I was asking because he didn't know the terminology.
I personally finished my meal, it was ok at best, but I see no reason to go back.

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★ 5

Dine in or out. Food is worth the stop.

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★ 5

Lucas (bartender) awesome service.
food- best wings i've had in a few years. excellent sauces on the table.
It's a little dark inside, but it is called the smoke SHACK, so to be expected.

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★ 5

Since moving to Milwaukee, this has been our “go to” bbq place. We have eaten in and taken out about an equal amount of times. They handle food allergies very well and their waitstaff is generally very good. Our visit yesterday has prompted a review, it appears food quality has actually gone up since our last visit. The brisket was done absolutely perfectly with a choice of “lean” or “marbled”…we both took the lean option because I prefer a denser meat rather than tender. Our son had ribs and the ribs were done very well. The sauces are all good too, and generally regionally accurate (House which tends to be pretty sweet, KC, Texas, Carolina mustard along with a hotter one I did not try.) The Mac and Cheese side and cornbread was good. I yearn for greens or a chile spinach side to compliment their flavors. Definitely worth a visit. (As a side note, we’ve had their pulled pork before and that is also a good pulled pork.)

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★ 5

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★ 5

From Texas here. Smoked brisket was amazing! Very tender and delicious. We absolutely loved the Texas barbecue sauce. Tangy and not sweet. Lucas was a fun server as well. Jackpot!

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★ 5

Came to Smoke Shack during Halal Week and was absolutely blown away! I ordered the 1/2 pound platter of beef brisket with sweet potato fries and cornbread, and everything was stunning. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth tender, perfectly smoked, and packed with flavor. The sides were just as good—crispy sweet potato fries and moist, flavorful cornbread that tied everything together. The atmosphere was great and the service was friendly. If they host another Halal Week, it’s a must try! Only wish there were more halal options on the menu because the quality here is next level. I’ll definitely be back!

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★ 5

Cool spot in the third ward - divey meets hipster Nashville vibes. Great patio; good brunch.

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★ 5

Best meat in the plant.

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★ 5

Burnt end sausage sandwich and baked beans were amazing, server was very helpful also.

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★ 5

Had an awesome dinner at Smoke Shack! I ordered the Pig Mac, and it was amazing. Super tender pulled pork stacked with creamy mac and cheese on a soft bun. Total comfort food.

My partner got the ribs, and they were fall off the bone good. Really flavorful, and the sauces were great too.

The vibe here is laid back and friendly, and our server was awesome. Definitely one of the best spots for BBQ in Milwaukee.

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★ 5

Food was amazing. Aimee was not the most attentive, but did what she could. I cant say much about her, as it was summerfest weekend and downtown is already always a hopping place and she was doing better than I did in my years of working restaurants.

Good came out hot, and the portions were nice size. Will be back to try other menu options as it was my first time here

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★ 3

Oof. So the food was pretty good. Maybe the ribs were a bit overcooked. But we came on the 4th of July, and the service was so bad. Our table was 15-20 minutes late being ready, it took ages for our server to come back to do anything with us. Our food took over an hour to arrive. We were told someone in the kitchen nearly passed out (understandable), but then we heard a server the next table over saying that they were backed up due to a large catering order...all the waiters seemed frazzled and distracted. Maybe our fault for coming on a holiday. Who knows.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Everything was Delicious! We had the smoked chicken breast and smoked pork. Tender, tasty, scrumptious. Wait I can’t forget the corn bread, slaw, baked beans, and mouth watering cocktails. Sooooo good! Just wish I had room for dessert.. Next time
Super friendly service too

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★ 1

Food was sooo dry. You can tell that they precook their food and microwave it. Too expensive for what they serve.

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★ 5

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★ 5

If you're ever up in MKE, you gotta stop by this spot.
Driving in area, blink and you'd miss it, but the food and service is unforgettable.
Egg rolls in BBQ joint? Yes!! A must try.

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★ 5

The food was amazing!!Amy was are server was Amy and she was the bomb!!very good!!

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★ 4

Food was pretty good, and the location is alright. The outdoor seating is a pulse.
To start off the do not get the sauce on the burnt ends. Only a couple of the meat pieces,I would consider real burnt ends. Chips that come with it are good.
The cornbread tasted like pound and it was good but not cornbread.
The wings needed so much more seasoning.
The ribs were tender but the sides were not good.

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★ 3

Their brisket and burnt ends are good and comes with a great BBQ sauce. I wouldn't say the best I had though. The brisket could've been a little more juicier. I also ordered their smoked chicken and wings. Very bland and dry. I would only go for the brisket and their sides.

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★ 5

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★ 4

Great bbq for solid prices, but the sides are where they shine!

Ribs are st. louis style so a bit drier than i normally enjoy, but as far as i can tell they did a good job. Brussels sprouts were cooked well, a bit tangy (almost pickled tasting) but enjoyable. Potato salad was the platonic ideal of potato salad and I will be thinking about it for a while. Got the pecan cookie & cinnamon ice cream for dessert - not my favorite as there was a strong almond taste, but my partner really liked it.

Also they have FIRE TABLES

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★ 5

Great food

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★ 1

The food was unseasoned and we sat outside and a couple came in with a dog which I find unsanitary.

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★ 1

Brisket was terrible. Zero flavor, super dry, had to cut with a knife. Mac n cheese was good. Potato salad was not good.

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★ 3

Portion size was way too small for the price. $50 only gets you 2 ribs, 2 slice of brisket, a small portion of pulled pork, 2 small sides, and a drink. I expect spectacular BBQ for that price but it was only OK. Very faint smoke flavor in the meats. Tasted more like it was cooked in the oven.

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★ 5

The vegan BBQ sandwich was fantastic! Great service! Nice location right downtown! Cute little building. Just make sure to make a reservation.

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★ 5

First place I found to eat on my way to the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. What a happy surprise! The food was so good! I had Shack Daddy which was all the meats combined into a sandwich. Great sauces that hit the spot just right. Service was fast and friendly. Definitely coming back to this place. Dog friendly, too!!!

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★ 5

Friendly staff and a good whiskey selection. Beef brisket was excellent. Good atmosphere of your into it.

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★ 5

FOOD DELICIOUS TO ME, MY BOO SAID HE DIDN'T LIKE THE SERVICE.

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★ 5

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★ 4

Cool bar and BBQ tucked away in Milwaukee with really good food and great service! Outdoor and indoor dining available. The indoor is a bit limited but the restaurant is cozy and feels like an old speakeasy. Two sample platters were more than enough to feed a family.
The only reason why I didn't give a full five stars is because the fried green tomatoes were a bit tough to eat and the sauces were more about spice than anything. I love spicy BBQ sauce, but you get about 5 different sauces with the sampler and it felt like 3 of them were just different types of spicy. Good flavor! Just not my idea of a variety. Brisket, pulled pork and chicken, and ribs were all amazing! Highly recommend.

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★ 4

Really liked the look of this place, classic BBQ going on the center of Milwaukee. The food was good, and I enjoyed the service while sitting at the bar.

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★ 4

The brisket is kind of dry. Pull pork is not too bad. The sauces are ok. I like the cream corns.

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★ 1

Waiter took 10 minutes to say they ran out of the beer I ordered, then proceeded to give the wrong beer. Food took 45+ minutes & wrong food was served along with it being cold then why did it take 45 minutes?!

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★ 4

Food was delicious. Ate out on the patio. Was windy out, but tables have a gas fire pit in the middle. Place looks like a shack you would find in the middle of the woods, so we knew it would be delicious. Kansas City Egg Rolls, Pulled Pork Nachos, Pulled Pork Sandwich, and Burnt Ends Eggs Benedict (picturd) were all ordered.

Large Bourbon menu (pictured). Ordered the "Blind Date" which is a flight of four different bourbon of the bartenders choice. Waitress didn't put it into the system, so didn't get it.

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★ 5

The atmosphere is perfect, the music couldn’t be better! Everyone is super friendly, the food is to die for, and our server Emily was lovely! She greeted us with a smile and took our order, happily recommending all the good stuff. Highly recommend this place! I can’t believe they don’t have FIVE STARS! Even their bathroom has a ton of character and the whole place is spotless. Love it! 😍

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★ 5

Best drinks, great food, 10 out of 10

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★ 5

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★ 5

The whole place has a great, old time BBQ joint vibe. The decor inside was rustic and clean. The patio was really nice, rustic as well. The maitre d was very friendly. Was a little chilly out, but the small tables have their own little fire going in the middle of the table, so sitting outside was nice. Our server, sorry don’t remember his name was super friendly and knew about the food and sauces. Our food was delicious! The fried green tomatoes were delish. Side servings were generous enough for all of us to get a taste, so we ordered many of them. Only slight down side, the ribs were very thin, not a lot of meat and I am a cole slaw snob, was told was a mayo based, which is my preference, it had a little mayo and a taste of vinegar, not my favorite, but I would definitely suggest! Out the door for 3 adults before tip $103.

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★ 4

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★ 5

Loved this place! Was in town for daughters 21st birthday and this was recommended. Everyone was badly their order. Waiter was awesome too! Speedy and answered all my questions 😁 😊 I highly recommend!

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★ 5

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★ 5

We ordered 8 lbs of Brisket for a Kentucky Derby party! Service was wonderful and the brisket was out of this world!! Everyone loved it!! We'll be back next year! Thanks!!

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★ 5

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★ 4

Overall great experience, Atmosphere was nice and relaxing. Me and my wife sat on the heated patio which is nice especially during the cold season, I ordered a bourbon flight where the bartender picks for you, and it was good but I believe they pick cheaper bourbons so beware of that if you're expecting something pricier from their wide variety, you pay for what you get I suppose. The bbq itself was wonderful but it was cold, that's the only real complaint I have, it could be a 5 star review if the bbq came out hot, but it wasn't even room temp and I couldn't finish it. Besides the cold bbq the sides were good, sauces were good, and the egg rolls are some of the best I've had, so 4 stars is what I'll settle on, maybe I'll go back and leave a 5 star if the bbq is hot next time.

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★ 5

We came up here for the weekend and this was our first stop and it was amazing. Ellen was our server and she is such a sweetheart. Food was a 10/10. Cornbread was FIRE. Definitely coming back here in the future <3

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★ 5

The pork was really good!

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★ 1

Chicken was so dry it was almost inedible.
Pork had a very odd seasoning and was fairly dry as well.
Neither the pork or chicken had a much flavor all very bland.
Pepsi products on tap are gross.
The stools were incredibly uncomfortable.
Servers were nice.

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★ 4

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★ 4

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★ 5

Are you looking for a place with good food amazing crew and very honest price, don’t wait and get your brisket

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★ 5

Very authentic BBQ, one of the best.

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★ 4

Food was good but the price of that cornbread is not worth it yea it was good dam near taste like pound cake but will I pay 7 bucks again for a portion of cornbread no the egg rolls was good but again the portions was small but that sauce made up for it both the sauce I had was hella good I'm talm bout mane they did that but because the portions was small you get 4 stars good day

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★ 3

Staff was friendly as all get out. Food was meh. It was good BBQ for Milwaukee, but it's Kansas City style didn't live up to its namesake. Could have used a more savory rub and the sauces weren't as kickin' as hyped.

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★ 5

Alan was the perfect person to serve us for our first time at SS. The food was 'slap yo mama on both sides' good!❤️😋
Recommend brussel sprouts and cream corn sides.
We'll be back. Thanks for making my wife's birthday incredible 😲

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★ 1

Black people are not welcomed here. Please don't waste your money. I asked her was my meat cut with the grain instead of against the grain she replied yes it was cut wrong. She brought my anther one the same way. She told me the cooks were busy prepping for something else. So I guess my meal was not important. Please DO NOT support them. They are racist! ☹️

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★ 3

Visiting from Florida. Does not rank with the bbq in the south whatsoever. Then again… I find the pallet up here not as demanding by any restaurant. Most are a bit bland. YMMV… service was good and the place is rustic enough.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 2

Food was way too expensive for it being the dryest meat ever. The BBQ sauces they have all suck. I think the only thing I liked out of my meal was the Mac and cheese. Not sure if I went on a bad night with the cook not caring for a Monday night but I will not be back.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great ribs and service

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★ 4

My experience was very good.

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★ 5

Crazy good BBQ. Fun atmosphere. usually ALWAYS busy... for good reason.

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★ 5

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★ 2

Yes, the food is very good, the sides were excellent - I really liked both green beans and baked beans. I would say that the brisket is cooked right too - mostly very tasty. But here's the problem - way too much fat served. Having spent 20 years in Texas, I would guess this place wouldn't last 6 months unless they began offering leaner servings of brisket. Some fat is a must, but this is too much. This is my second time, and I can confirm it. I just wish I could get a decent serving because they've done the smoking right.

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★ 1

Food was nasty ribs are not tender at all. Mac n cheese was bland. Only thing that was good was the corn bread

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★ 5

Food was delicious....waitress was great

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★ 2

Ridiculously small portion sizes for the price. I ordered delivery and received an incredibly dry piece of brisket (which was half fat) and a couple table spoons of dry chicken.

I received no sauces or pickles. Their potato salad used to be mustard based and it was one of my favorites. The recipe is now a creamy dill and it's tasteless. I will not be ordering from this restaurant again. Calls to speak to a manager are routed to voicemail. A waste of $45 dollars!

Edit: The number provided by the GM is literally the same number that goes to voicemail. I left yet another message and still haven't heard back. Just lip-service to make it appear as though they care about your business.

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★ 5

Ótima comida!!!

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★ 5

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★ 5

This has become a regular stop anytime I'm in Milwaukee. The food and drinks were great (as always) but the waitress's attitude and friendliness are the main reason I keep coming back.

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★ 5

Our food was AWESOME!! And decently priced as well. Couldn’t reccomend this restaurant enough!!

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★ 3

Ambience was nice, food came quick, there was plenty of seating. However the meat was very tough and not “falling off the bone” as I had expected. It also tasted a bit stale like they had cooked it hours before and just chucked it in the oven before serving. Baked beans were great, mac n cheese and coleslaw eh. Best part of the meal was the fried grits! Otherwise we had a good time!

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★ 2

Food is delicious but they recently changed their menu and upped their prices giving you less food for more money. They falsely advertise a happy hour on their website. Used to be one of our favorite BBQ spots in the Midwest but will not be returning

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★ 2

I want to love this place, because it has a cool vibe, good services, and tasty beers and beverages. Unfortunately, it does not appear to have good BBQ. For the life of me, I cannot figure out all of these great reviews, so either none of the locals have ever had good BBQ from Texas, Oklahoma, or the Carolinas, or I hit a night when the cooks were WAAAAYY off. My son and I visited on a cold January night. The smell up and down the street was wonderfully intoxicating, and the host was very friendly and accommodating to seat us an hour earlier than our reservation. At 7 pm on a Saturday night, it was busy, but not crazy busy. Our waiter was terrific, and the selection of beers and drinks was good. We ordered a few orders of brisket and some ribs (which oddly cannot be combined with any combo platters.) When everything came out it looked overcooked/smoked and very dry, not to mention that the serving sizes were not up to typical Midwestern standards. The ribs were tough like shoe leather. It was as if someone had forgotten them in the smoker where the cooked twice as long as needed. I wish that I was exaggerating when I say they were tough, dry, and easily the worst that I have ever had. The brisket was likewise very dry and a small portion of a few pieces (not sliced.) It tasted better than the ribs, and certainly was more tender, but fell short of even average. Again, something must have been wrong, because this stuff was not close to good quality or deserving of the reviews that are posted. Fortunately, the BBQ sauces were in volume at the table, and we used a ton to eat what was delivered. Additionally, the coleslaw had almost no flavor and the beans were fine, but pretty runny. The cornbread was actually very tasty, and probably the highlight of our meal, outside of the beverages. Neither my son nor I wanted to ruin the evening out, so both of us put on a show for the other. It was only the next day that we discussed how bad everything was. However, the staff, bar, and atmosphere are good, so for the third time, I have to believe that something was just wrong that night. My wife wants to give it a try, so we'll take another swing at it in a month or so, and I will happily undo this note accordingly if we are pleasantly surprised by almost any aspect of the food. However, if what we received was typical for this place, then Milwaukeeans have no idea what they are missing.

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 5

First time coming in. Absolutely great, BBQ. I picked up the egg rolls that blew me away. The salad in the middle had amazing dressing that complimented the egg rolls nicely. I then got the Brisket plate with Mac&Cheese and cream corn. First off, the brisket was cooked to perfection. My fork cut it with ease. The Mac&cheese was delicious. The noodles were cooked nicely with the cheese having a great viscosity. And finally, the cream corn. Quite possibly the best cream corn I've had me my life. I just wanted to keep on eating it. Will definitely come back to check out the rest of the menu.

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★ 4

Always a nice meal!

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★ 5

Haven’t been in two years but I’m having withdrawals. Really really good food.

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★ 3

Been here multiple times, favorite thing is the pulled pork nachos, now replaced by potato chips, shouldn’t be advertised as nachos anymore. Corn bread used be different and large portions, now smaller and priced poorly. Unless menu goes back to how it was I wont ever return unfortunately.

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★ 1

food was inedible. My husband unhappily choked his brisket down, but my tastebuds burned so bad that I couldn’t after I took one literal bite of mine. we asked for the bill and the bartender asked if I needed a box, I said no thank you, he asked if everything was okay, and I said it was just very sour (often a sign of spoiled food, but maybe they just smothered everything in lime)
He said, I’m sorry to hear that, then charged us for everything. I’ve been in the service industry for over a decade and never have I ever charged somebody for something they didn’t eat and then said was bad. That was wild. Ended up going out to eat again afterwards for something edible. Expensive little date night.
(famous Dave’s and jiffy cornbread would be better quality than whatever that was and famous Dave’s is the worst)

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★ 5

Make a reservation on the weekends! It’s a small space

They have great beers on tap. My kids devoured the Mac and cheese. The pulled pork nachos are amazing.

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★ 4

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★ 5

Staff was great, the nachos were really well done, the 2 meat dinner was also very delicious. The smoked meats were juicy and overall excellent.

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★ 4

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★ 5

Staff was great. Lindsay (bartender) took care of us like a champ. We're pretty early but, of course, my husband has to be picky about his meat... Pitt boy with a TX heart. He said this was the BEST brisket he's had since Austin in the 80s (yeah he can decade that 🤦🏻‍♀️). Specifically... Marbled, moist, and can even skip the sauces. I needed a little green and don't eat red meat (the horror!) so the salad with roasted chicken... unbelievably delicious. Dressing and all the bits was perfect. I topped it off with cornbread which I shouldn't have but still walked out feeling like I could have died happy. Eric bitched about the "spicy" pickles... They're not, another delicious add.

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★ 5

The food was delicious, the place’s aesthetic is perfect, very cozy and great for families. The server Reed was very attentive to our needs, always checking on us and making sure that we got our drinks and food on time. The food came incredibly fast, the meat was tender and flavorful. Everything was a 10 out of 10. Highly recommend this place! If you don’t know what to get I suggest the platter that has a mix of sandwiches and cuts of meat. I will be coming back very soon!

Source: Google

★ 5

I love this place so much! It's my favorite restaurant in Milwaukee, their food is amazing. I ordered the pulled pork and mac n cheese sandwich with a side of pickled veggies. The appetizer was the pulled pork egg rolls. Absolutely fantastic. Great service, surprisingly awesome music, very cozy ambiance.

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★ 3

I love barbecue but every single time I come to this location the ribs are dry pulled pork is dry chicken is also dry. Brisket is dry. Tried them out different times of the day and doesn’t matter if you get there early or late in the afternoon, everything is dry There was a location in Tosa. They did a better job, but unfortunately they closed.. place and service was great but they recalled need to work on there meats

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★ 5

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★ 5

Best Thanksgiving turkey EVER!!

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★ 5

We are beyond thrilled with the BBQ catering from Smoke Shack for our wedding! From start to finish, they were nothing short of amazing. Our guests are still raving about the food – it was absolutely delicious. The meat was cooked to perfection (they were also very accommodating about adding Jackfruit as a vegan option), and we’re still thinking about the mac & cheese - everything was a hit.

The team at Smoke Shack was incredibly professional and easy to work with. They took the time to understand our vision and tailored the menu to fit our style. On the day of the wedding, they arrived on time, set up seamlessly, and made sure everything was served at the perfect temperature. The staff was friendly, efficient, and went above and beyond to make sure our guests were taken care of.

Not only was the food incredible, but the presentation was also impressive. The buffet was beautifully arranged, and the food was plentiful – we had more than enough for everyone to enjoy. We also appreciated how they handled special dietary requests with ease, ensuring all of our guests had plenty of options.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Прикольні ребра як буженина. цікаво.

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★ 5

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★ 4

Great pulled pork and recommend the Pecan Old Fashioned

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★ 5

Unfortunately, when I went there, the brisket was kind of dried, beside of that lovely place

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★ 5

Food was amazing - we liked the egg roll appetizer the best - but everything was good.
I personally don’t love fatty meat so to me the brisket was slightly more fatty than I prefer but my spouse thought it was great as is & he is probably the more normal preference for bbq meats. The pulled pork was my favorite. Campfire S’mores dessert was so good

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★ 5

Food was so good! And service was the best!! Kick 24 habanero is such a good sauce of you like a kick of spice. Definitely will be back

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★ 1

I was so disappointed in the food that was served. The food was cold, and there was no flavor. I told the server about the food being cold, and he stated that the food was supposed to be luke warm and walked away. They didn't charge for my food when I returned it. The drinks were mediocre and couldn't taste no alcohol. To top things off, my daughter got sick when we got home. Never again would I go to this place. Food was not top tier 😕 73 dollars for some crap we could've made at home, but better. Wish I can give this place a zero.

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★ 5

It's cozy with amazing BBQ, what's not to love?

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★ 5

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★ 5

Must try if you are in Milwaukee! We sat outside with our own personal fireplace and enjoyed yummy drinks and food while being able to have a great conversation. Linsey was our server and gave us great recommendations after listening to both of us and what we both were looking to eat and drink. I don’t think the night would have been the same without her recommendations! Brisket and Mac and cheese were both fire! Will be coming back.

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★ 5

Welcoming atmosphere and quick service. Was a great choice on our walk around Milwaukee

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★ 5

Great little BBQ place the fresh corn with butter was very delicious the pulled pork was good aswell the sides mac, coleslaw, potato salad were very good now the marbled brisket was very delicious meat portions couldve been a bit bigger for the price of $25 the service from the waiter was great A+

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★ 5

Good smoked meats. Great brunch biscuits. Love the texas sauce and carolina mustard!

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★ 4

Was great to be back after a few years since my last visit. The new staff members were on point and the food delicious as usual.

Update 2024 - Stopped in for a quick sandwich to go. It was served up hot and fresh in under 7 min!

Source: Google

★ 1

Smoke Shack is a long standing restaurant in the 3rd Ward neighborhood of Milwaukee. If I'm being honest I have no clue how this place is still open as the food has remained consistently poor for at least 10 years. It's time I finally write a review based on my latest dining experience.

I ordered the 1/2 lb platter of smoked sausage that came with pickles, coleslaw, and choice of one side. Let's start with the sausage. It came out cold and was flavorless with no smokey flavor. The four sauces didn't help much as they were all watery and had no flavor or heat. Next up is the dry and again flavorless thimble sized serving of coleslaw. There was no saving this. For my side I opted for the Mac n Cheese which also came out cold, lacking flavor, and all the cheese was not melted on the bottom of the cup. Last up was 3 measley pickle slices that sat on the parchment paper underneath the sausage. They tasted like pickles. Overall the worst "barbeque" meal I have ever eaten.

Our server was pleasant and checked on us frequently. The scan and pay receipt option was a nice bonus. If I wasn't here with a group I would have sent my meal back, and I tipped appropriately.

Drink options were fine but they wanted $7 for a Miller Lite, $8 for a craft beer, and $11-14 for a cocktail so I stuck with water.

Source: Google

★ 5

Absolutely the best brisket I have ever had in my 62years of life. The most juicy tender and seasoned perfectly. I did not even use any bbq sauce on it. I will definitely be back!!

Source: Google

★ 1

First time to the Smoke Shake! I was greeted immediately by a server at the host/ess stand. I asked where I could order take-away.

I was kindly directed to the bar, and to Ellen. At the bar, I sat for two minutes as Ellen was fidgeting with a handheld gadget. After two minutes I tried to get her attention. I said hello several times.

When she finally turned around, she seemed to have a attitude. Her words were nice, but her expression and body language was foul.

I asked if she could make a Rusty Nail. She said she didn't have Drambuie... She told me in a manner as if, it pained her.

I asked for a Dark & Stormy. She said she didn't have it. I asked if they had ginger beer. She said yes. Ginger beer us and ingredient of the drink... She said that she thought I was asking for a brand of liquor. She apologised as if it hurt.

Then selected Captain Morgan. I asked if they had Meyers Dar Rum... She said, no... This was all they had. I settled for water since it was such a chore.

I hope the food is better than the bartending service.

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★ 5

Dropped in and had the KC Eggrolls they were great! Super cool vibe.

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★ 3

Can't really say ive experienced the best tasting food there.. My last visit wasn't the best.. 😡

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★ 5

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★ 2

Food was bland, portions were small. Menu offerings were small. They were sold out of some appetizers.

Service was alright. Decent tap list but not an extensive liquor menu with the exception of whiskeys. Adding insult to the experience, they slapped on a 20% automatic tip despite the checks being split for our party. Food was not fairly priced given the small portions.

Can't say I'd recommend it.

Source: Google

★ 2

I ordered takeout last weekend. I was very disappointed in the flavor when I got home and ate the food. Initially, I was hesitant to leave a review because I rarely do so, but the taste was so bad that I felt like I had to say something. Unfortunately, I am still thinking about how tasteless the food was a week later when I am staring at all of the leftovers in the refrigerator. The brisket was the best thing and by no means was it flavorful. The pulled chicken tastes like air. I actually gave a large portion of it to my dog and he liked it, which means I didn’t waste all of my money on this meal. The baked beans were extremely watery, and again tasted like flavorless air. The macaroni and cheese, a.k.a “macaroni noodles” because there was no cheese, tasted like plain noodles–no flavor. I’ve been here before and this was not what I was expecting. Overall, this was a bad experience.

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 4

Where the hell did the seitan go?

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★ 5

Consistently delicious!

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★ 5

We catered Smoke Shack for a welcome dinner and it went amazingly. The service was spectacular and the food was very good. I would highly recommend using Smoke Shack if you are looking to cater food for an event.

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★ 5

Always good food and always a great place to meet up with your loved ones!

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★ 1

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★ 5

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★ 2

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★ 1

Horrible food

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★ 2

TLDR: one item was good, service was nice but slow (especially for the bill)

I ordered the brisket plate with a side of sweet potato mash, a side of cheese curds and fried pickles and a prohibition iced tea. The iced tea didn’t taste much like alcohol but it was refreshing because inside wasn’t really well ventilated. The sweet potato mash and coleslaw had no flavor and the brisket was so dry (except for the fatty part).
The cheese curds were honestly great but they came out much later, after I was already turned off by the other food.

The service was friendly but it took almost fifteen minutes to get the bill and I was literally sitting at the bar.

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★ 4

Great tasting BBQ pulled pork, okay service for Sunday evening. Perfect atmosphere for the restaurants name.

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★ 1

I recently had a TERRIBLE experience here. The brisket sandwich was HORRIBLE. One slice of meat, half fat. Cost $14. I asked for a total check refund from their store manager, NO SIR. From their GM. No resolution. No customer respect. The server was a solid 2 out of 10. I did finally get a refund for the check. Never going back. Really bad experience.

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★ 5

Food exceeds expectations, music was great, and the staff were so polite. Decided that we would go here to eat because we wanted something relatively cheap but not fast food. The sauces were delicious and overall this place is so good that I will definitely go here whenever I’m in Milwaukee. Ten out of ten, phenomenal. How Phenomenal tho 🗣️🔥‼️⁉️🔥🔥⁉️⁉️

Source: Google

★ 4

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★ 2

We went here because another BBQ place is not pet friendly. Was hoping for the best. Great service.
Food was ok. Small ribs. Brisket dry. Wings decent. Coleslaw was pretty plain. Highlight was the Mac n cheese.

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★ 5

First time visiting Smoke Shack was earlier this week, and I plan on visiting again! The food that I ordered was amazing! I got the pulled chicken & sweet potato fries. I’m a new fan! The sauce I liked the most was the Kansas sauce, it was sweet and savory. My next favorite sauce was the Honey Mustard looking sauce (I forgot the name)!

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★ 5

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★ 3

Good outdoor seating and atmosphere for a BBQ joint. Also a nice selection of Bourbons. Unfortunately food was very bland. Three in our party and no one thought much of our food. Would be great to see this establishment step up their game with higher quality BBQ.

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★ 3

Baby backs tasted weird, slightly papery or something. Hammy pink all the way thru and not much meat at all. Not tender. The sauces were all very watery. Beans were OK, slaw boring, but the mushrooms were pretty good. Nice ambiance and blues music.

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★ 3

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★ 1

Very poor food quality...Very bland taste, Pulled Brisket tasted like it was cooked in water, Baked beans looked like it came out of a can(watery). People hyped this place up for no reason paid $70 for scraps. Couldn't get $70 worth of decent food. I Would not recommend going here for "BBQ".

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★ 3

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★ 2

No recommend at all, they have the most dry brisket I even have, and also the size of the food is way too poor

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★ 5

Great place we stumbled on this afternoon. Loved everything we had.

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★ 5

Best BBQ I've ever had in Milwaukee.

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★ 5

Great bbq in the historic 3rd Ward. It is a place you must go to.

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★ 2

The atmosphere was great, we sat on the patio. However the food was trash! Nothing was seasoned, everything was bland..even the cole slaw! How do you mess up cole slaw?! This was my birthday dinner, I am highly disappointed.

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★ 5

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★ 4

Host / guy who sat us was just OK, but the waitress and food made up for it.

Source: Google