Absolutely amazing. Stopped by randomly after seeing a show nearby. Food, atmosphere, and service (Drew) were all outstanding. Would literally make the trip from San Diego just to come here again. Well done. read more

Spent 2 years in Fort Worth so I bring a Texas BQ bias to this review I had lunch Brisket - a little dry 3/5 Texas Toast - 4/5 I added a side - Mashed Potatoes with Brisket bites 4/5 Dinner rolls - 4/5 Service just barely adequate and I was one of three tables in the restaurant Side was over priced for a cup of mashed potatoes-$9 Not bad SoCal BQ experience but I miss Texas hospitality and great brisket read more

My family and I recently visited Craft Smoke & Fire for lunch, and unfortunately, the experience fell short. When we arrived, the hostess (a tall blonde) just stared at us without greeting, almost as if she was questioning why we were there. I mentioned we were a party of five and asked about sitting outside. Despite seeing available tables, she said no, and her demeanor was very dry--no smile, no warmth. After being seated, our server also lacked personality. What stood out most was that no one welcomed us to the restaurant, which set an odd tone from the start. The only bright spot was another staff member--a tall African American gentleman--who was attentive, friendly, and actually seemed to enjoy his job. He brought me a beer, greeted everyone at the table, and showed the kind of hospitality you'd expect. The food took a while to come out, and when it did, it was barely warm. Cold brisket is not something anyone wants, and I didn't even finish mine. To make matters worse, no one checked in to ask how the food was. On top of that, there's a mandatory 3% service fee for rising costs (noted on the menu), in addition to the 20% tip we left. For that level of service, it just didn't feel justified. Overall, the experience felt off--unwelcoming service, lackluster food, and poor attention to the table. I won't be returning to this location, though I've heard other locations may be better. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Waffle Fries - actually were good - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

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BBQ salad was really good. Wings were pretty good. Bartender was frazzled taking our table even though there were only four tables in the place at 2:30pm on Tuesday. Another server working as well. Kinda lame that mocktails don't qualify for the 2-for-1 happy hour deal. Overall a fine experience. read more

Made a reservation online using open table. It was very simple and easy to navigate. Called the restaurant on the day of the reservation stating we were running 15 min behind and that our number has decreased by 2. Not an issue, got thanked for the update. It wasnt that busy at the time of our arrival. There were a lot of tables and the noise level was quiet. The host was nice and sat us not too long after we arrived. The table that we got sat at was extremely wobbly. My father-in-law noticed another table had napkins placed underneath to stabilize so he did the same to our table and it worked. Tara took our order and brought out the drinks. The food was 90% great! The 10% that fell short was a combination of things. 1) menu online and the physical menu said corn bread (which we were told no longer serves them). If its no longer available, update the menu because we were excited to try the corn bread. 2) a bbq place with no wet naps, that is really weird. However, they did bring me a stack of paper towels that were wet as if they were wet naps. 3) only 1 steak knife was provided in the platters. It was hard for a party of 6 to cut up meat with only 1 steak knife. 4) one of the sides came out cold, and hard. I bit into a macaroni and it felt raw because of how hard it was! I even dropped the macaroni on the plate and it rang! We brought it to the servers attention and we were able to get a fresh one free of charge. We loved the short ribs and the tomahawk steak! They were delicious. Baked potato as a side item was very large! During the whole time we were eating, no one came by to check on us, refills were not provided until after we were done eating. We never got one of the drinks that Tara wrote down and it showed up on the check. I was trying to get a staff members attention, and my hand was raised up, and there were hosts that saw my hand raised, but did nothing. There were other servers and runners that saw it too. Took a while for us to get any help. We eventually flagged down our server after what felt like 5 minutes. We brought the charge to our servers attention, and they corrected that too. Overall, the table service could have been a lot better, fix broken tables, and I suggest you bring your own wet naps or baby wipes because they dont supply any. read more

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We were all impressed by this place!! 5 of us got a family meal and had so many leftovers. We came late at night but service was great and the meat was so tender. I wasn't particular impressed by the chicken but it's a bbq place, so I wasn't too thrown off by that. Plenty of seating and it was quick and easy to make a reservation. Would be a great place to watch sports, there is a bar as well! I tried the other location in Anaheim before and wasn't impressed by that one, so this one pleasantly surprised me. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - sides - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I like this place a lot. They have screens all over the place to watch sports. Also the wait staff was really good. The food was also really good. So I totally recommend coming here. read more

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Stopped by on a Tuesday evening. It wasn't busy. I stayed for a couple drinks and ordered a good amount of food to go. Service was a bit slow and it looked like only one server was working, which I understood since I wasn't in a rush. I ordered the Prime Brisket Quesadilla, Winter Lodge Salad, Fresh Atlantic Salmon, Beef Back Ribs, and broccolini. For the price, the portions felt pretty small even though everything comes in large containers. The salmon was actually cooked well and was probably the highlight. The Winter Lodge salad was just okay. The beef back ribs were disappointing, very thin and overcooked, pretty chewy. The broccolini was $11 for only a few pieces which felt excessive. I also ordered a strawberry cooler and asked for no tajin but it still came with it. I still drank it but it was extremely sweet and not really for me. I did ask another server a question and she simply said she didn't know, which wasn't very helpful. The food also came out very quickly and by the time I got home it was already cold, so it made me question the overall quality a bit. Based on this visit I probably wouldn't return. It felt overpriced for what you get, and I didn't really notice much smoked flavor from the meats either. read more

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Two of us ordered a half pound of smoked brisket with sides and drinks for brunch. The broccoli, waffle fries, and mac and cheese were all great. The mocktail with homemade syrup was very good, must try. The vibe in the restaurant is nice, high ceilings and an open space. Good service as well. read more

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This place has been on my radar for a while and I finally made it over for lunch with my friends. It was a Monday afternoon and not too crowded. Our server was Christopher and he gave us plenty of time to look at the menu before we ordered. It's a huge open space that felt more like a sports bar. There were several TV's surrounding the tables and a huge bar in the back. I shared a Wagyu Baldwin Burger w/waffle fries and a Winter Lodge Salad with my daughter. The burger was good, the waffle fries weren't hot enough and the salad was average. The balsamic dressing was bland and a few bites tasted like there was dirt on the lettuce. My friends ordered the Stockberger, Smoked Tri Tip Bahn Mi sandwich which they enjoyed, and the Smoked Brisket Potato Skins which were okay. *Happy Hour Monday - Friday 2-6pm and 9:00pm to close every day *Meter parking & garage parking near by read more

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We came in to celebrate a birthday with a party of nine. The ambiance was nice, and there were tons of TVs to watch the games. I've been to the Arcadia location before and didn't enjoy it because the food was overly salty, but this location was actually quite good, and I enjoyed the meal overall. The service, unfortunately, was a bit lacking, it was pretty hard to flag down our server, even just to get water refills. As for the food, this location hits. Here's what I tried: Grilled Jalapeño Burger - Loved the bun, and everything was well-seasoned. Fries came with it even though it wasn't listed on the menu. (4.5/5) Big Texan - A bomb dish, but it does get overwhelming as you eat more of it. The flavors are strong, and I think it would be perfect to share. Since I ate most of it myself, it got a bit tiring toward the end, but still very good. (4.5/5) Street Corn - I was excited for this, but it felt under-seasoned. It was decent corn, but honestly just tasted like plain grilled corn without much added to it. (3.5/5) Complimentary Nachos - Every time I eat at Crafts, they end up giving the table something for free, not sure why. Still, it was a nice and reasonable appetizer, and I enjoyed it. (4/5) Overall, I liked this Crafts location much more than the Arcadia one (which I think is closed now). It still wouldn't be my first choice of places to go, but if someone suggested it, I wouldn't mind at all. Note: Did not receive anything complimentary for the birthday. read more

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Came here on a Saturday night around 8:30pm...got seated immediately. Our party of 3 wasn't really hungry so we decided to get two orders of the half pound brisket and the waffle fries. The fries were very good - something about waffle fries, esp how ketchup covers the ridges - so good. Unfortunately, all four pieces of brisket were very dry. The flavor on the bark was very good, but biting into it was more like tearing into beef jerky. There were many appealing items on the menu and it looks like we ordered the worse thing. But how can you be called a bbq place if your brisket is done poorly? Maybe we will try this place again...hopefully things will be better. Thankfully the service was good and there were plenty of TVs to distract us from the bad brisket. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Half pound of brisket and side of waffle fries - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I'm really hoping they're just renovating coz this was our go-to spot for Texas BBQ next to Gus's. This place was always busy and have a good patronage for me to think they're out of business. Hoping to eat here again. read more

We hadn't been to Craft since they closed down their location in Arcadia at the Santa Anita mall. The kids chicken tenders, brisket and 3 cheese mac and cheese were really good. We also tried their tri-tip, and it did appear to be a little bit overcooked so was a little dry. However with their BBQ sauce, it made it better. There was no wait for a table for 3 on a Saturday evening right before Christmas so that was impressive. Our waitress was quick, courteous and very helpful with her suggestions. It is a nice ambiance to sit in the restaurant with high ceilings, many large TV screens and ample seating in the dining room. read more

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My husband chose this spot as he was in the area for a meeting, and so I met up with him for lunch during the week. Parking blows, but I think anyone in Pasadena knows that lol. Place was pretty big, ample space and seats. It wasn't too busy so we were immediately seated. Servers were awesome, this would definitely be a place my husband and I would go to if it was closer to us to get drinks and watch sports. Food, is a mixed review. I ordered tri tip, and was kind of surprised it didn't come with ANY sides. Price is a little much for a few strips, so I added the garlic and herbs mash, topped with chicharrón. My husband went with the brisket grilled cheese, and my son with the chicken tenders. Both of their food choices were actually MUCH more delicious than mine. The tri tip was barely warm when I got it. Was a little disappointed. But that was just me. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

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GREAT brisket! Ambiance: the place has an elegant sport bar feel interior Food: - Nachos: I got the mountain high loaded fries (swapped the fires for chips so that they're nachos) and they were amazing! (See picture) Texas Style Smoked Brisket Hall pound (SO MUCH FLAVOR) (see picture) Service: they were friendly, quick and had good recommendations If you're in the mood for BBQ and a cool sports bar seating this place is perfect read more

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Everything we tried was amazing -- the potato skins, short rib, birria quesadilla, brisket tacos, and Thai chili wings were all delicious! The only downside was that the food cooled off a little too quickly because the ventilation inside works too well, so maybe enjoy your dishes slowly or ask them to stagger the order. No wait, nice big space! The menu has changed quite a bit -- no more skewers, lamb chops, or mud pie -- but everything we had was worth it. Definitely going back! read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

The Tritip was tender and soooo well seasoned the Tritip bahn mi was my favorite. The spinach and artichoke dip also had a great bite to it and the melted cheese yumm... we happened to be there at happy hour so we got 2 for 1 drinks (drinks are good... and STRONG). The service was great & the vibe is upscale sports bar! read more

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TLDR: BEST DOG-FRIENDLY BBQ PLACE IN PASADENA! Please come here to experience for yourself! This is my partner and I's (and our dog's! ;) ) favorite BBQ spot of ALL TIME! No joke! I've had plenty of BBQ places before but Craft by Smoke & Fire always amazes us with their top quality food and service. Upon arriving, we were quickly seated by a staff member inside along with our dog (Indoor and outdoor seating are technically both outdoor, as the "indoors" has huge, permanently open windows). We were thrilled to see how there were several other tables with dogs, reflecting how dog-friendly this place was. Not to mention- the waitress came with a DOG PATTY for our dog - how thoughtful and amazing was that?! :') We could not stop thanking her, and our dog LOVED it! APPETIZER -Smoked Brisket Potato Skins FOOD -CAB Ultimate Cheesesteak Sandwich -Brisket Grilled Cheese DRINKS -ahh forgot the names of it, but hope the photos do justice! one was spicy and the other was fruity- both AMAZING of course. Our food and drinks came out so fast and service was just so helpful and amazing throughout our experience - they even offered us free shots on the house (second to the already free patty they gave to our dog)! My partner and I have been here several times and the food always tasted so dang good, as well as the well-crafted drinks. We loved EVERYTHING. Can't wait to revisit this place again with our dog! read more

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Met some friends here for lunch. They were not very busy and had plenty of tables inside as well as some tables outside. We opted to sit inside to watch h some of the sports games being played on the numerous TVs they had all over. The ambience was perfect for hanging out and enjoying a meal together. The service was pretty slow but did not affect us since we were busy chatting with each other. We ordered a couple of appetizers (birria quesadilla and potato skins) which took about 25 minutes to come out. We had a few mixed drinks and some of their beers which were all good. We ordered burgers and shrimp tacos. I ordered the jalapeño burger with side of Mac and cheese which were both delicious. The shrimp tacos unfortunately were not up to par. Overall, we had a good time and they improved their service as time progressed. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

Group of 10, Jennifer was the best wait service I've ever had like literally ever. She knew the menu like the back of her hand and was so efficient. The food was also very good. - brisket tacos sooooo good. Mouthwatering. Tortillas tasted freshly made. - Rudy vegan (my mom) she said it was VERY good. They let you choose the spice level! Other notable stars of the night for our group were the cornbread, raspberry lemon drop shooters, potato skins w/brisket (good but cold, big group and my auntie HATES cold food but said they were good), and the brisket everyone had on their various plates was across the board delicious. They have a zillion TVs so all the college games were on and the Dodgers v. Giants. It was a casual, fun space. Highly highly recommend. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Brisket tacos - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

FOOD 3/5 Order the grilled steak for better food experience. Ribeye temp was medium rare, perfect. But only warm not hot to table. Cane with choice of one side. Baked potato was a nice large size but cold, and the skin was hard like leather. Generous with sour cream and chives though. Skin totally uneatable. Also ordered the the tri tip. Dry, though nicely smoked. Four lean slices, with sad small heap of dill pickle chips on side. Tri tip also not served hot. Small square of dry corn bread, tho did have a clear corn flavor. Everything on the tray seemed like it was a day old and kinda stingy.. .no wow factor. Whereas the ribeye steak did have a wow factor. DRINKS 2/5. We ordered mocktails. Served in an underwhelming glass more suitable for orange juice. Not enough ice bec glass too small, so drinks come to table warm. They are pretty drinks. We ordered the mango and I had the blueberry...for a place called Craft, the drinks were not crafted well....balance was off on my blueberry drink, very sweet. The mango was better tasting, clear lemonade flavor but kinda light on mango,and there was an apron of taijin added to the rim, tho the drink might look less clunky and more enjoyable with the taijin along the entire rim. SERVICE: 2/5. Pleasant and friendly, but took 15 minutes for server to show up although the restaurant was practically empty...no check ins, no inquiries about more drinks, or desserts, no extra napkins, no wetnaps....the young maitre d' was friendly and reassuring, but clearly new and had no sway over the lone waitress working the dining room. I had to get up and ask him for check and the to go doggie bags. Saving grace was being left alone to have a long leisurely lunch in an unhurried quiet atmosphere. AMBIANCE: 5/5 Loved the modern urban sports bar vibe. And the Laker mural opposite the bar at the rear of the place, hidden from view from the entrance. Hidden gem that, perfect for selfies. Also the cool original artwork and the great throwback mellow music. read more

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Picked this place because they allow dogs both on the patio and inside so long as the stay in a pet carrier. Had the sad mom lemonade seltzer, smoked brisket potato skins, nachos, and the smoked tri tip banh mi with the sweet corn on the side. The food was tasty and the meats perfectly cooked. Our waiter was attentive with us and our pup. The place is huge, well lit with TVs so you ca catch a game while you dine. read more

Nice atmosphere an the food was good, only lost one star because half the things displayed in the yelp pictures are no longer available on the menu anymore, ie desert items, skewers and more so make sure you ask before you get your heart set on an item that looks great, but no longer available anymore. They gave me nachos on the house which was good! The menu also doesn't show pictures of any of their items so it's hard to get a feel for what they do have. read more

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10/10 This place exceeded my expectations! The restaurant is spacious with plenty of tables, so it never feels cramped, and the ambiance is such a vibe. The decor is fun and thoughtfully done, which really adds to the overall experience. The food was absolutely AMAZING..flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and cooked to perfection. Every bite was chef's kiss. The cocktails were just as impressive, delicious, well-balanced, and clearly made with love. I had the brisket quesadilla and the cactus kiss drink. On top of that, the service was excellent. Attentive, friendly, and welcoming from start to finish. I would go back again and again without hesitation! Cheers! read more

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We came here late Saturday night, right around 10 pm. Thankfully they were open til midnight. We were seated quickly, there were still people eating at tables and the bar was pretty full. Our server did let us know they were out of beef ribs, short ribs and fish tacos. It's a bbq restaurant so late Saturday if they ran out of meats, it's understandable. I can't be mad at that. They have a quite a few specialty cocktails, and a few mocktails sprinkled in. Our server took our drink order, an espresso martini, a mocktail and a couple of gin and tonics. Drinks were served with a complementary dish of nachos. A plate of chips with cheese, corn, pickled onions and cilantro. We ordered I planned on a cup of the tri tip chili and a side of Mac and cheese. Unfortunately I was informed they didn't offer the chili anymore. I opted for the brisket with Mac and cheese. The brisket was good, slightly dry but the bbq sauce helped. The Mac and cheese was very dry and below average. My wife had the loaded burrito. It was Nashville hot chicken pieces, with Mac and cheese, the tortilla had a great cheese crust on the outside. She was happy with her choice. A brisket bah mi was my daughter's choice. The sandwich was massive. She liked it, the jalapeños added a good touch of heat for her. The waffle fries were really good. My son had the brisket grilled cheese. He said it was good but he felt it didn't have enough cheese. My son did try to order another drink that had absinth in it but unfortunately they were out of ingredients to make the drink. There were some highs and some minor lows. Overall a decent meal. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Brisket grilled cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

We stood next to the sign to get seated. Staff from the kitchen saw us and we weren't approached for the longest time. Empty tables were dirty with piles of dirty cups and trays laid out ontop Waited so long to get seated.. The girl says "How many?" "For two." "For three??" "For two." She walks over and puts our menus down without another word. We sit, hoping the long wait to get seated would just be it. We looked through the menu long enough to reread it so many times and got our order ready. We sat and waited so long for our waiter to take our orders. Didn't even know who our waiter was. Saw other staff walking by doing other things in a hurry. We watched as two groups got seated at least 10-15 mins after us, one behind us and another to our side. Ho and behold.. The one AFTER the one after us (yupp the third one) got approached by a guy (never saw him this whole time, guess he was supposed to be our waiter) and was asked on what their order was. At that point, we didn't want to wait anymore and spend more time. We got up and left, knowing the wait for food would be even longer. Seeing someone else we know experience a long wait here over 2 years ago.. Disappointed to say they haven't fixed their mess. Very disappointed at the disorganization by the hostess and wait staff. P.S Parking is paid due to the meters along the street and each minute is NOT free. Costed us a lot to just wait around here. Don't recommend for a weekday dinner. read more

Their cornbread doesnt taste as good as I thought . Everything else was great though ! Servers are really nice & theres plenty or seating Including a bar inside read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

Fantastic bbq, the group got a variety of appetizers and the family platter (with sides). I would probably skip the apps and just go straight for the platter. It was such a great way to try all the meats. My favorite was the brisket & corn as a side, definitely a great experience PLUS fun menu names and a great house IPA read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Family Platter - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I had a great experience at Craft! I arrived right before happy hour ended and the specialty drinks were buy one get one free. The drinks were delicious and strong. My friend and I ordered the spinach dip, Baldwin burger, mac and cheese and brussels sprouts. Everything was really good. The service was friendly and I will be coming back for sure! read more

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There is a reason this was the number 1 ranked restaurant in Pasadena. It was delicious! The brisket might be the best brisket I ever had as well as the broccolini. The brisket literally melted in my mouth. The queso was good as well but not nearly as good as the brisket and broccolini. You must go! There are also a ton of TVs to watch a game and the service was friendly. We had Jen and she was great! read more

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This was a 1/2 pound of FAT! Having spent considerable time in Texas, I love exploring BBQ restaurants during my business travels. Was excited to discover the overwhelmingly positive reviews on Craft and made a detour for takeout during my LA visit. Disappointed to receive a Brisket Plate that was primarily cuts of fat with very little meat ... could have been an off night or a bad decision by the kitchen to use this waste ... a colossal disappointment for a BBQ Lover. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Fat-laden BRISKET - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

Come if you are very hungry and crave something heavy. American gastropub-- everything is loaded and huge. We got the bone-in brisket sandwich, baked potato, and chili/corn bread. I'm pretty sure we were knocked out with a food coma after. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

Craft by Smoke and Fire in Pasadena has a bold, industrial-modern vibe that's hard to miss. The space is open and expansive, with towering ceilings that show off exposed wooden beams and ductwork. That rustic-meets-urban aesthetic is carried through with sleek cement floors and warm wooden tables. Multiple flat-screen TVs hang on the walls, making it feel part sports bar, part trendy eatery. The energy inside is definitely lively--like, really lively. If you're into high-volume environments that feel like a Friday night club even on a weekday, this place will hit the mark. But if you're noise sensitive like I am, brace yourself. The music was loud, like party-at-the-club-level-loud. I asked if there was a quieter part of the restaurant, but was told the table spacing is the same throughout and the volume doesn't really vary. I tried sitting inside briefly, but it was just too overwhelming for me. Hoping for a break from the noise, I asked to sit outside on the front patio. Oddly, even though there were people already seated out there and an open table clearly in sight, the staff said the patio was closed. We asked before 9 PM--and they don't close until 10--so it felt a little frustrating. If you're planning on sitting outside, just know the patio might shut down early, even if it's not officially closing time. Ultimately, we pivoted to takeout instead and ordered the prime brisket quesadilla and the Brussels sprouts. The Brussels sprouts were actually quite tasty--full of flavor. But the brisket quesadilla was a letdown. It sounded amazing on the menu, but when I bit in, I kept running into giant, chewy chunks of fat. Maybe I got a bad cut, but it really affected the whole dish. Instead of melty brisket bliss, I was pulling out bites of rubbery fat. The vibe at the restaurant would probably be fun for a group hangout or watching a game--if you don't mind the noise. Just not the place to go if you're sensitive to sound or looking for a super chill dinner. Between the brisket mishap and the patio situation, it wasn't the experience I had hoped for but I still think others will enjoy. read more

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After a long, hot day, I was on a mission: good BBQ and a great drink. This spot, tucked in a lively dining hub, looked promising--modern, clean, and spacious with a breezy window seat perfect for people-watching. Service was a bit slow since our server was flying solo with two big tables, but she gave us a heads-up, so we ordered quickly to keep things moving. The cocktails? Total win. I had Devil Went Down to Georgia--bourbon with raspberry, peach, and cherry--refreshing and not too sweet. My friend's Hennything is Possible lived up to its name--citrusy, crisp, and dangerously sippable. As for the BBQ, it looked great but missed the mark. My brisket was dry and lacked flavor. Mac n cheese was solid, but the pickles were scarce and the onions tasted more waterlogged than pickled. In short: drinks stole the show, vibes were great, food was just okay. Worth a visit, especially if cocktails are your main course. read more

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I really hate leaving a 2 star review as the ambience, service and wine were great but the food just wasn't. For my order I had the vegan mushroom burger and it was so oily and greasy it gave me a stomachache. The waffle fries that came with it were so chewy I didn't even bother to eat them. My husband ordered a brisket sandwich and he said the meat was cold and tough. Wouldn't go back because other than a greasy mushroom burger there are no other vegan options on the menu. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Fried Vegan Mushroom Burger. Would not recommend. - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great cocktails and great food. The Pastrami was the highlight. So flavorful and juicy. It was all really good. Unique mashed potatoes. read more

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I was excited to try this place after looking at the pics and reading some reviews. I needed a place to hang out for a few hours to study for my final, have a beer, and a bite. I like the spot. Spacious, cute decor, and loved the natural light from the ceiling. Also, the temp was perfect. Not too cold, which is always an issue for me going out. I sat at the bar because I think that I get the best, quickest, and attentive service there. I was wrong. There was only one girl waiting all the tables and bar area. I got there at 2pm, just in time for happy hour, which was cool because they had bogo beers. I didn't end up ordering my food till 2:30. It wasn't crowded. It was a Tuesday so there were a few tables and a handful of people at the bar. The waitress was doing everything in the world but coming to me. I ordered my beer first, which I regret. I should've just ordered it all at the same time. The girl had a stank b!t@# resting face and attitude. Rightfully so, I guess. But it ain't my fault your job did you like that. She literally had this annoyed, disgusted face when I waved her down to take my order and ask for some sauce. I avoided asking her any other questions because by that point, I was just as annoyed as her. Another girl came in with gingerish hair and glasses around 3:45 and was sweet, friendly, and came to ask if I wanted another drink or anything else right away. Then she popped by and gave me a complimentary plate of some chips with sauces and veggies because she says it pairs well with the beer. She's the only reason I gave 3 stars. The food....I had the winter lodge salad with the brisket, which came out pretty quickly and looked delicious. I was disappointed because the brisket had absolutely no flavor. I was nervous to ask for some steak sauce because the waitress looked like she would scold me lol. But I was not about to eat some brisket that tasted like nothing! They didn't have steak sauce so I got the chimichurri sauce, which made the salad way better. It was a bad first impression. I may come back to give them another try when it's busier, but most likely not. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

We stopped by on a Friday night and sat outside their dog friendly patio. Bernadette took very good care of us and made sure our pup was content as well. When I asked about dairy she ensured that what I ordered was dairy free. I enjoyed the brisket tacos, but I found them to be really small. The bahn mi was really tasty and I found it to be a great value for the price. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Brisket tacos - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Aesthetic spot with great beer (Villains Brewery!!!) that's good for groups. Parking: street parking limited as it's in the old pas area, so likely need to use one of the paid lots. Many in walking distance. Food: the Hazy IPA is sooooooo smooth. Highly recommend. The coconut shrimp was perfectly crispy and so tasty. Everyone liked the artichoke dip. My shrimp tacos were a good portion and seasoned well. They have some vegan options. Ambiance: lots of nods to pop culture/movies and cool modern artwork. There were tvs with sports on, but on silent with music playing. Lots of bench style tables for groups. Service: there was no wait at 5pm on a Friday, we didn't need our reservation tbh. my food came out first, but the wrong tacos (not shrimp). I didn't mind it. The server was very sweet. Other than that, fast service. read more

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