I loved the brisket, beans & cornbread. I didn't really like the Mac & cheese. The greens were good. The ribs were good, gamey. Drinks were good. Service was impeccable. It's just what you expect for a Texas Bbq joint. There is a parking lot & outdoor seating. read more

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Just attended oyster fest (9/28/24) hosted here. Pretty much a scam and it's the organizers intention, not the fault of the staff. Staff were super nice and tried their best despite the situation. Tickets were $65 per person and the advertisement promised unlimited oysters and Heineken silvers from 3-5 pm (while supplies last). For the price, a reasonable person would expect as many oysters as they can eat plus flowing beers. It quickly became apparent that was untrue. Three oysters were served every 10-20 minutes. Only one type of oyster (Blue Island, the sponsor). The shuckers were working hard but the management tried to stretch their supply of oysters as much as possible to have people eat as few oysters as possible in the two hours. I counted the oysters I got in the entire agonizing two hours- 24 oysters and 6 clams. Why clams? They ran out of oysters and someone brought in a bag of clams to fill the last half hour. Mind you, most of the oysters served were tiny, skinny, and sometimes full of shell shards. Beers ran towards the end too. 24 oysters for $65 and a two hour wait.... We ended up ordering the Roadhouse nachos but the brisket looks fantastic. The brisket in the nachos was good but probably won't recommend because the nachos were very bean dominated. tl;dr don't trust them with food events. Pros: nice staff, nice bathrooms and sinks, nice bar atmosphere, brisket looks and tastes good, oysters tasted good, cocktail sauce was yummy Cons: oyster fest was a scam and total waste of both money and time, you were served three skinny oysters every 15 minutes, not "unlimited" as advertised. Previous oyster fests allowed customers to freely get oysters. The angry male staff member with a baseball cap went around grumpily telling people to sit down when they were trying to order from the bar or take pictures of the oysters. read more

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A Taste of Texas Right in New York! As a proud Texan, I've had my fair share of authentic BBQ, and I'm thrilled to say that Smoke & Barrel in Rockaway Beach hit all the right notes! The brisket here is top-tier--succulent, smoky, and packed with flavor just like the best you'd find back home. What made the experience even more special was learning that Mike, the manager, studied under some of the best Texan pitmasters in the business, including the legendary Aaron Franklin. You can taste the attention to detail and craftsmanship in every bite--it's clear this BBQ is the real deal. The casual beachside location adds a unique charm to the experience. It's a perfect blend of Southern comfort and New York cool. read more

Authentic Texas-Style BBQ in New York! As a born-and-raised Texan, I like to think I know a thing or two about great BBQ, and Smoke & Barrel completely blew me away! The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth perfection--juicy, flavorful, and smoked to absolute perfection. I never thought I'd find brisket this good in New York! No sauce needed, thanks to a stellar dry rub that lets the meat speak for itself. The beach and cozy atmosphere made the experience even better--warm and welcoming from start to finish. A special shoutout to Mike, the manager, for making us feel right at home and ensuring everything was top-notch. We'll definitely be back! Smoke & Barrel is a must-visit for any true BBQ lover. -A BBQ-loving Texan read more

This place is it! The bartender Shane is so friendly and the smells will lure u in. Great food. Great vibes. Uber friendly crowd and staff.

My wife and I came here for some 4th of July bbq and had a great time. The brisket sandwich was great as were the fries. the ribs were okay. I wish they had come with bbq sauce on them but they were still decent. Mac and cheese was a winner and will be getting that every time!! The bar has an amazing selection of taps and love that they have two ciders on tap. The specialty drinks are fun and are delicious. Even if you want to just chill and have a few drinks this is a good place to hang. Staff was super accommodating and friendly as well. Definitely check out Smoke and Barrel if your in the area. read more

Food was mediocre. Brisket was disappointing- small Luke warm portion came with tasteless coleslaw & red beans that were like wallpaper paste. Both thankfully tiny portions. Crispy chicken sandwich was decent & came with fries . Honey cornbread was very good. Loud music on weekends dominates ambiance , could be more subdued for relaxation. Couldn't want to leave. Service was fine . read more

They did a great job hosting a cocktail party with a special menu served buffet style and specialized drinks. Mike the BBQ master was fantastic in assisting planning the menu with food not served on the menu to best accommodate my 30+ friends. Susan & Brian the proprietors were integral in the event planning and decorations. The menu included fantastic appetizers- white bean bruschetta, Asian chili wings. pulled pork & chicken sliders, lamb chop lollipops. Main course was the house salad, corn bread, melt in your mouth brisket and ribs, grilled shrimp skewers all served with pitchers of Texas lemonade & empress car shots! The live band was a plus to make the night super special! This is my place for authentic BBQ food. read more

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We came for brunch on a beach day and have to say the brisket was AMAZING. We'll for sure go back next trip.

Literally everything about this place is just amazing, and it's super local, which makes it even more amazing! The vibes are fab, the service is super, but the FOOD... The food is mouth watering, delicious, and every time I'm done eating I know I'm coming back for more. Not to mention how yummy the drinks are... they even have a very nice selection of whiskey (which makes my husband really happy). This place has quickly become one of my families favorite restaurants! Also.. they hosted my husbands 34th birthday and THEY DID NOT DISAPPOINT! HUGE thank you to the whole team for making the experience so special for my husband! 10/10! read more

I don't like dumping on a local business... but this is hands down the worst bbq i've ever had. Bucket of Bones pretty much the entire field of options in one order, ribs were okay, pulled pork was gross, brisket was chewy and pure fat, sausage was meh, didn't try chicken devil eggs were dry and inedible burger was filled with grisly chunks of beef read more

I went here for dinner on a Sunday and the service was ok. The food was nasty sorry but it's true. I order the pull pork sandwich and it had no bbq sauce and a lot of fat on it. The cole slaw was dry, no Mayo or seasoning, the honey tea tasted like it was made with tab water. Had an unpleasant after taste. The cornbread was dry no butter no honey nothing. Overall, I was excited to come here and get my bbq fix and I was so disappointed. They need to step it up. Would not be going there. I have pictures but will not add them or maybe I will... read more

I ordered this for the first time and was very disappointed. It's very overpriced. The portions are extremely small, the food is subpar, the menu doesn't even list what's in the items so I found out after I received my order that the beans have pork in them. The meat was extremely salty and there was no barbecue sauce at all even though I paid to get extra barbecue sauce. I'm truly not sure how you market yourself as a BBQ restaurant and can't be bothered to put barbecue sauce in the bag. I paid over $100 for two entrees, cornbread and two desserts and it feels like highway robbery. I'm confused about any of the good reviews I've seen. read more

I really wanted to like this place but I can't say anything positive except the owners( maybe?) we're very nice. The food was bland and dry which is baffling for a BBQ restaurant. The1/4 chicken was not edible. Pulled pork had no flavor Two stars because Mac and cheese and burger were decent. read more

Very disappointing. We have been to Smoke and Barrel several times and enjoyed everything about it. Last evening we went and saw that they no longer had waitress service but rather you had to go to a counter to place your order. If you wanted a drink it necessitated going to the bar to order. When we ordered we asked if the chicken sandwich was all white meat and we were told it was. One bite told us it was not. I am not certain if there is a new pit master but the quality of the food has definitely declined in our opinion. Sadly that will be our last visit to Smoke and Barrel. read more

I was fortunate to have a 73rd birthday party at the restaurant this past week. What an incredible evening! The restaurant itself is so warm and comforting. The staff friendly, curtious, and extremely accommadating. And the food and drinks undenieably as good or better than any barbeque place in the city. I'm a brisket guy, and wasn't dissapointed. It was like butter, and seasoned and smoked perfectly. Ribs - fall of the bone tender and juicy. Everything was the bomb! Thanks so much for bringing real barbeque back to Rockaway! Howie NH read more

Stepping in to the spacious and friendly space, we were warmly welcomed. Our large party was comfortably situated at the "family table" and it was better than eating in my own dining room! For starters, the mussels were plump and fresh, in a sauce you could eat with a spoon. Deviled eggs were unique and delicious. The cornbread is addictive, the honey was sweet and moist and the jalapeño had the perfect amount of zip. We had 3 different styles of the wings and each was better than the next. Then we went for platters of meats served family style. Ribs were plentiful and so tasty. Brisket was perfectly cooked and delicious. And for the vegetarians at our table , they enjoyed pulled portobello sandwiches, and a crispy and flavorful salad. Oh... and the cocktails! Amazing selection and so fun. For me, I love the Prosecco on tap! Our server Jen was professional and kept the food coming. read more

We met a few friends who were drinking at the bar when we arrived. I wanted to order a beer on tap but my friend advised me not to. I asked why, she said we tried 4 beers and they all tasted stale, and took a sip of hers, and could tell the taps were not fresh. So I ordered a beer in a bottle. Then we ordered 2 apps, wings and nachos. They were pretty good, although the wings were dry. Then I ordered ribs... the order came with 6 large ribs... the ends were so dry, very unpleasant. So I figured the middle pieces would be better, but I was wrong. They were dry, and the meat had no seasoning. They put a sweet glaze on top. I always eat all my food, but I had no desire to eat these ribs. I told the waitress that I didn't like the ribs. I ordered onion rings. They brought out 6 clumped together rings of deep fried onions in a small bowl. Really bad!! Also, the bbq sauce on the table tasted pretty bad, and you couldn't squeeze it out of the bottle because the nozzle was clogged. read more

We stopped in on a weekend night after a day at the beach. Nothing else was open nearby so we decided to check it out. Hostess & servers were accommodating & friendly. The music from the overhead speakers was too loud to talk over but they soon realized that everyone was complaining and turned it down. The menu was limited but we were able to find food options that aligned with our dietary needs. One person in my party ordered the crispy chicken sandwich that came with fries & cole slaw. They were pleased with the taste of the chicken on brioche. The fries were simple but flavorful. I ordered a salad with grilled shrimp. The salad consisting of iceberg lettuce, one (if at all) sliced tomato & sliced red onion was $15. The addition of 5-6 shrimp was $10. So after spending $25 for lettuce & shrimp I was still hungry. Still nibbling on French fries a bus person came to the table & snatched up the plates before were finished. The main dishes overall seemed overpriced so my suggestion is to have more options that are budget friendly. The drinks were good & service slow. Overall, a decent place to grab a drink and ok for food if you're not unemployed or don't mind overpaying for mediocre food. read more

Very cozy place with great staff and patrons. It was my first time there, I appreciated a laidback beach like atmosphere, perfect to unwind after a stressful week. Anthony is one of the coolest bartenders around. read more

Great ambiance and service. Definitely the best bbq in the area. There are a diverse options of cocktails that pair well with southern style bbq dishes. Big fan of the live music and the pool table and darts board area are an awesome attraction. read more

It was new years eve. We were informed that one take out customer bought all tge brisket. How is this possible? We should have left then. There was a restaurant in nyc called RUB righteous urban bbq. Find tge owners and the smoke master and take some lessons! Batesys is even worse. Tiny portions alone on a tray with nothing else gir $ 20? Not a good idea. This is a working class neighborhood! Drinks were half full and came froma mix! Not made fresh. Possibly instead of the owner constantly apologizing and doing pr maybe a better staff trained properly. As a professional chef I will never visit this establishment again! Oh and desserts are pedestrian or non existent Zero ambiance read more

Fantastic Brisket, smoked the right way, great people who run the place, always good vibes, great live music, delicious food... what more could you want? The neighborhood got lucky these people took over this spot. It's awesome. read more

The food is delicious and the service is amazing. Great atmosphere. Best bbq in queens!

This is an awesome spot. There is great food and great service And the bartenders are amazing.

The most amazing bar and restaurant! Tremendous service, amazing food and the ambiance is as if you are at home with family. In fact, whenever I am at smoke & barrel I am with family! Again, amazing food, great drinks, great environment¡!!!!!!!!! read more

Awesome place, they smoke the brisket like 16 hours which is above and beyond, voted best bbq in queens, good live music, good vibes. Glad it's in the neighborhood. read more

Great local spot! My family and I had dinner here tonight. It's a Friday night and the overall atmosphere was lively and fun. The restaurant and bar were bustling and there was a great band playing. The service was great. The waitstaff couldn't do enough to accommodate us and everyone else around from what I could tell. To top it off, the food was amazing. My son and I had the Brisket, which was probably the best that I've ever had. My husband loved his pulled pork and the mac and cheese and corn fritters did not disappoint. Give it a try. We can't wait to go back to try the ribs. read more

Love the food and drinks but I miss my regular bartender Andrea. She's been serving me for almost 5 years. That's all the place is missing.

Been to Smoke & Barrel a number of times already and it's always been great! Starting with creative cocktails like the tequila mocking bird (and my favorite- Prosecco on tap!). Have tried all of their menu items and haven't yet decided which is my favorite. The brisket is moist and delicious, ribs are fall off the bone fabulous and the wings.... Best I've ever had! Mac and cheese, beans and of course their infamous corn bread. I even had the chance for a bucket list experience of riding a mechanical bull (not as easy as it looked). Love the live music and dancing. Staff and atmosphere are friendly and help to turn a rough work week into a relaxing and fun evening. Will be going back for more read more

Excellent! A wonderful evening in every aspect. I went to Smoke and Barrel since they were hosting my favorite band, The RockAwades, never expecting a great dining experience. The food and service was excellent and moderately priced. I started with a generous portion of barbecued wings in a chili sauce which were delicious and a side of Mac and cheese which was off the charts. My friend had the crispy chicken sandwich with bacon served with a side of French fries which were obviously fried in clean oil. I had a very good Chardonnay that was a nice pour. My friends were drinking beer which were ice cold. I noticed a few very large TV screens that made me think...Hmmm..what a great place to watch Sunday football. They have a large bar with a variety of tap beers. I highly recommend this place. If you don't live in Rockaway, it's worth the trip over the bridge to dine / drink at Smoke and Barrel read more

Smoke & Barrel - Ice cold, clean taps...beer - Bars Near Me - Queens, New York

I came down for the weekend and heard about this place it exceeded my expectations ! Great cocktails I had the tequila mockingbird and the ribs fell off the bone their cornbread I was told from the server is made in house and was delicious. The service was amazing everyone was so nice! read more

Food was amazing. Start with the mussels and deviled eggs. Trust me they are not your grandmothers deviled eggs. Loved the Brisket and Mac and Cheese for dinner. Cocktails were delicious and the bartender went off menu for some tasty concoctions. Awesome new place in Rockaway. read more