I actually didn't care for any of the sauces they had to offer. They were all just mediocre. I know some reviewers rave about the sauces, but I found them to be just... not good. lol Yeah. A plain not that great. That being said, we ordered the 4-meat combo (which comes with 1 square of cornbread and a choice of side -- we settled on mac & cheese on the recommendation of yelpers). I also sampled the corn chowder which was okay. No big complaints, but the sample of it didn't compel me to actually order it. All of the meat, except the sausage, which I just wasn't a huge fan of, was moist and tender... The beef & pulled pork ar the best in my opinion. So that part of the meal was good (not great, but definitely good), but the meat tastes like there's no salt in it so that it's a blank canvas for your sauce of choice. Unfortunately, I felt like the lack of seasoning in the meat made everything taste slightly under seasoned. Which was a serious contrast to the saltiest mac and cheese I have ever had the (dis)pleasure of eating. It was so salty that I nearly spit it out. Granted, I suppose paired with the under-seasoned meat, you almost have a balanced and well-seasoned bite. I couldn't take the saltiness and needed to eat something other than just meat, so we ended up ordering sweet potato frieds, which were quite good. We were also curious about the rib tips, but they were out by the time we got to the restaurant (around 7:30). Our server was average, but the GM came around to chat, and actually comped our sweet potato fries and dessert (we settled on the bourbon praline cake) to make up for the extreme saltiness of the mac & cheese. The praline cake was nice; it has an interesting texture -- a bit mealy like corn bread and very gritty with bits of sugar throughout -- and a nice if strong bourbon flavor on the caramel sauce. I wish it would have been served warm (and maybe with ice cream, but that might be asking too much). Also, if you like iced tea, definitely give the sweet tea a shot. It is very sweet, but I loved it. Also as other yelpers have mentioned, you'll more than likely be seated with people you don't know. Depending on who you are, this may or may not be a good thing. I'm glad I tried this spot, but I doubt I'll be back. I was debating between 2 and 3 stars (this is more of a 2.5 star joint for me), but went with 3 stars since the GM went out of his way to make sure we walked away satisfied customers. read more

I really wanted to love this place, but BBQ is one of those things that you absolutely have to hit out of the park. I know that they publicize that the meat is of higher quality, but sometimes, that isn't your friend when you barbecue. Historically, great BBQ came from lesser cuts and quality of meat and was made amazing by the pit master. While they do an OK job, the meat is often dry and I am amazed at the high prices. A few of us went together and we all ordered something different so we could share. The only dish I really enjoyed was the short ribs. They were real fatty, but that is to be expected with that type of cut. The ribs were cut in such a way that it looked like there were small pork chops on the ends...I don't want small pork chops...I want ribs. The brisket was dry and the pulled pork was as well. I was also not a fan of the fried corn. Why add extra calories to corn when it does nothing to enhance it? The cornbread had a good sweet flavor (I like sweet cornbread), but it was flat and too dense...seemed kinda amateur or like it came from a mix I do have to say that the desserts were AWESOME! The whiskey ice cream was so good as was the praline dessert. I think they will get there with the BBQ if they hire a professional pit master. You honestly can get better 'cue at Famous Dave's and that is because they are really good at it! read more

Great BBQ... if you can get past your inner snob. I love this place. It's a tad pricey, but that doesn't mean it's not worth it! We walked into this place and the interior felt great. It's very southern rustic, and it doesn't feel like corporate design like some of those "other places" do it (*COUGH*FamousDave's*COUGH*). The downside, it's a small place. I can see it being difficult to accomodate large groups and handicap access. But I don't have any experience on that. I just wanted to warn you. So call ahead to get the scoop. There were two of us. It was just before dinner time, they were at about 25% capacity, and we were politely offered any available seat in the house. After seeing how small the place is, we offered to sit at the bar to leave room for the dinner crowd. We were geniunely thanked for that. We talked to the bartender and one of the cooks while we perused the menu. The cook suggested we get the 4-Meat Combo. It was a bit pricey, but could easily be split between two grown men. So that's what we did. It had Sliced Brisket, Pulled Pork, Pulled Chicken, and Homemade Sausage. While we waited, the bartender and cook we chatted with were very friendly and talkative, but they weren't obtrusive in the least. They answered all our questions and offered some suggestions besides. I don't know what to say about the taste other than: I fell in love with every piece of meat on the plate. It all had a great balance of smoke and heat. I think my favorite might have been the sausage (just because I love a great sausage). It was along the lines of Hungarian sausage, with a bit of a southern twist to it. Now, I've heard some unfavorable reviews on the food. Usually, these are prefaced with, "I've had Carolina BBQ and this place sucks." Or, "You don't know good BBQ until you've been to Kansas City." Or Memphis, or Texas, or Georgia, or [insert southern region here]. Sorry, but I just don't agree with that. One can go ahead and limit their choices if they want. But the fact is, every region has different BBQ because of different regional cuts of meats, spices, and smoking techniques. Whatever their influences, the Smoke Shack is actually smoking their meat - low and slow. Not like other places that throw some ribs in the oven, slather them up with Open Pit, and call it BBQ. Would I like some Memphis BBQ right about now? Heck yeah I would! But not because it's better... just because it's different. read more

I discovered that Smoke Shack delivers via Yelp last weekend when I was exhausted and too tired to cook. What could I eat that was well-prepared, tasty and satisfying? I pulled out the Yelp App for ideas - Voila! Smoke Shack beamed through my phone, like a beacon of epiphany, in my dark apartment! This is a revelation where smoked meat is concerned. I mean the 47-seat joint fills up fast. Now I can get it where I want it - at home or in the office if I prefer. Possibilities! I selected exactly what I wanted - pulled pork, mac and cheese, cornbread, and the vinegar-based cole slaw. Barbecue fans take note: I noticed you can order some of Smoke Shack's specialties BY.THE.POUND. Oh my. I'm salivating thinking about it. So much meat, so little time! What a great service. If I wanted to, I could track it on my phone. Also it was delivered on time as promised. The most delightful part? The presentation. Nice, straightforward bag and containers that were neat to eat from. Beautiful and plentiful. I had so much to eat I made a second meal out of it. I felt the delivery charge was worth it and would do this again. It was such a treat, doing this nice thing for myself when I felt so crummy. Thanks Smoke Shack and delivery service for taking such good care of me! read more

Cool little themed place. Good for hanging out with friends or a casual night out. Food: Pulled Pork was delicious. Pulled Chicken was nearly as good. Mac and Cheese was good but not great. Cornbread was dry Service: Average Would I Come Back? I would come back if i was in MKE and had a craving for BBQ, but would nto be a regular. NOTE: seating is communal style, so if you go during dinner rush expect to be brushing elbows with strangers. NOTE: They sell out of their ribs during the dinner rush most nights, so get there early if you want some. read more

I wish I smelled like this place. Went here recently for the first time. There was a special was going on, so I got to try a few sample sizes of some of their appz. I need to return for the full experience because I loved everything I tried. Obvs, their thing is smoking all the meats, and it smells incredible! I need it as a cologne, so...get working on that, Smoke Shack! read more

So there are definite pros and cons about Smoke Shack. I wanted to go to Smoke Shack after a trip down south ignited my BBQ cravings. I had been here once before (I think for Downtown Dining week) and was excited to come back. I was gonna get me some ribs! My excitement came down a few notches when the server (who took a while to acknowledge us) informed us that they were out of ribs. Super sad. It wasn't even late in the evening. Alas, I chose to order a combo meat plate, selecting pulled pork and brisket (which you had to pay another $3.50 for). The definite pro here were the meats. They were tender, moist, and delicious and you didn't even need to top them with sauce. The definite cons here were cost, serving size, and value. At most BBQ joints you get two sides and maybe even some bread or cornbread. Here you just get one side. None of the portion sizes are huge either. $20 plus tip and tax for two meats and a sweet potato is just overpriced. Food is great, but unless you spend beaucoup bucks you may not be leaving here full and satisfied. read more

After many tries, I finally got a seat at the Smoke Shack. In the past when I have tried to eaten lunch here there was at least an hour wait which doesn't fly for somebody who only gets an hour to eat lunch. But last Tuesday must have been my lucky day because there was no wait at noon and we were seated right away. Something to be aware of is that these are "community tables" so you are generally sitting with strangers. Its not like at a beer hall where the tables are long either....we sat at a table for 6 with 2 other people right next to us. It was a little odd at first since it felt kind of like we were on a date with them..but I talk to strangers sitting next to me at the bar all the time so I guess its not that different. They also have a tiny bar to sit at but I think your best bet will be enjoying the deck when the weather warms up. My friend and I both had the brisket sandwich, both put house bbq sauce on it as well. It was very good, not chewy but tender and nice that you could control the amount and which type of bbq sauce to put on it (nothing worse than a soggy sandwich). It definitely wasn't hot, seemed like maybe it had been sitting out of the cooker awhile before it made it to our table but was still tasty. Came with sweet potato fries which were also good. We split 2 desserts- the Bourbon Praline Cake and the Bacon Bourbon Brownie. The cake was rich, gooey and moist- good but not worth the calories. The brownie was not for me...I had never had the bacon chocolate combo before and I hated it. Way to meat tasting and not enough sweet. It did come with Whiskey Ice Cream that was awesome though- next time I will stick with a scoop of that. I'm excited to go back and sit on their deck with a drink. I really want to try the mac and cheese and if you sign up for their mailing list that you can try it (or any other side) for free! Prices are a little high but pretty much on par for the Third Ward and would never deter me from stopping by. read more

Some really good smoked meat. My friend and I split the chili bowl and corn chowder soup as appetizers because they both sounded delicious. And they were! The corn chowder had a bit of a kick to it, but not too overpowering. The chili was more soup-y than thick like chili i'm used to, but it was very good. As my main dish I had the pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw and their potato chips. Very yummy. It doesn't come with bbq sauce on it, but in the center of the table are 4 different kinds of bbq sauce to use. Personally, I liked the house bbq sauce. If/when I make it back out to Milwaukee, I would love to visit this place again. read more

A big THANK YOU to all the staff and the owners you sure did a wonderful job bringing a great BBQ restaurant to Milwaukee! The decor, music, lighting, everything is beautiful and comfortable, BIG PROPS to FluxDesign Milwaukee on that!! I dined at the Smoke Shack with a group 8, we're good friends so we ordered a variety of menu items and ate family-style. Everything I ate (which covers most of the main menu items, appetizers and desserts) was delicious. Starting with the appetizers I think I liked the Candied Bacon with Sweet Potato Fries the most, and in a close second the Leeks were better than I imagined (first time trying leeks for me.) The Nachos with pork and BBQ sauce blew my mind, who knew BBQ sauce on the nachos would work. Oh and the Buffalo Wings... The only ones better are the special order hour-long slow roasted wings at AJ Bombers. My favorite as far as the main course was the Pulled Pork, but the Rib Tips, Sausage, Brisket and Chicken were all perfect. There wasn't anything that I would of changed. I absolutely love that the sauces come on the side (available at the table) so you can flavor to your liking, or if you're like me, use none at all!! Of the sides, I had the Mac & Cheese and after some encouraging I added some pulled pork and Kansas City BBQ sauce and that just really is one of the tastiest Mac & Cheeses I've ever had. Not to say that the Purple Coleslaw wasn't delicious but next to the Cornbread and Smoked Corn it doesn't stand a chance with me. There was several other vegetable related sides that I didn't try, but it was nice to see they had them, oh and if you're a salad person... They have them too :) I'm not gonna have much to say about the desserts (mainly because by then I was so overwhelmed with goodness that I couldn't pay attention or see straight) but I did love both ice creams that I had by Purple Door and they're not to be played with, and one of them might not be best for the young kids as it's got a good amount of Whiskey in it (which is an exclusive to the restaurant.) Other than the ice creams, the Pecan Pie, Bacon Bourbon Browine, and the Pecan cake thingy were perfect treats to end a beautiful meal. The best part of the menu for one in our group was the variety of menu items that are vegetarian. The owners of the Smoke Shack take great pride, care, and respect in choosing their products. The pigs are raised humanly and are hormone free, the products are as local as possible and cooked the right way. You really can't go wrong! read more

OMG the burnt ends were amazing. Also tried the fried green tomatoes and Kansas City egg rolls which were good but the burnt ends were better! The place is small, but the atmosphere is nice. They have high top tables on the inside but I did also see high chairs for kids on the side. Came here in the winter time but I bet summer time is better because they have an outside sitting area. read more

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My party had an OK experience here. The awesome- These are the best sauces I've ever had in a BBQ joint. The good- Service. Brisket. Hot links. The alright- The chicken and pulled pork. The bad- The ribs. Price. I'll go back for the brisket and hot links at some point. The ribs were not meaty, a problem I think stems from using pigs that are not commercially fattened. Mine also had a couple of bone chips, like they were cut but not rinsed. The price is a bit steep for what you're getting, in my opinion. Again, the natural meat and 3rd ward location doesn't help. I am a bit biased on price, as I'm able to do a 8-9 pound shoulder at home for about 15 bucks, for example. I appreciate the craftsmanship to be sure, but I'd rather do it at home with almost identical results for way less. I want to leave on a high note. The sauces were awesome, and even though I normally make my own, I'd buy these if offered. read more

I realize that Famous Dave's is now a nationwide chain, but if you've ever been to the originals in Minnesota, Smoke Shack = Famous Dave's cooler, sexier older brother. I first visited the Smoke Shack following a late this winter. It was right after a brewery tour at Milwaukee Brewing Company so if you've ever taken the tour, you know what condition I was in. I loved everything about this place. I love the blues music. I love that it is small and has that great laid back character that really let's you just sink in an enjoy the food. I love that all of their signature drinks have whiskey. Their mac and cheese is some of the best in the city. And of course, it's all about the ribs there and they won't disappoint. I am also happy to report that I returned a second (sober) time and loved the place just as much. (And can also add that the pulled pork nacho appetizer is monstrous and perfect for a group appetizer.) Yes, there are only 47 seats. Yes, you will have to get there early because they sell out of their best items. I'm telling you, this place is worth planning ahead for. read more

First, let me state up front that I have spent a lot of time in Texas and Memphis. A LOT of time. To compare this to either of those BBQ heavens may not be fair, but I can't help it. I had been wanting to try this place since it opened, but will not wait 2 hours for really anything. Finally got to go on a not as busy lunch day. I was alerted to possible disappointment early on, when I ordered iced tea and the waitress did not ask 'sweet or unsweet?. Really? A BBQ place without sweet tea? This just does not compute with me. Onward, ordered the candied bacon. Not bad, but not great. Seemed like bacon dipped in molasses and maybe broiled for a minute. I have had something similar down south and it was about 1000x better. My entree of pulled pork, cornbread and mac n cheese was just alright. I personally found it really overpriced for BBQ. The pork was just ok, cornbread moist but lacking any real flavor (seemed like it came from the Jiffy box and was made in an over, not a cast iron pan). Mac n cheese was the highlight, that was really good. Service was fine, but the atmosphere, for me, left something to be desired. I guess they are trying to create a roadhouse type of atmosphere, but the music was bad, bad blues. And way, way too loud. There is good blues, but they weren't playing it here. The communal table thing, as mentioned, is also not so fun. Having to reach across people you don't know for condiments, at this price point... not so much. I probably won't be back. I'll risk 15th & Center for something authentic and more reasonable priced. Edit: So, Joe says they do offer sweet tea. Then it's a service issue that I wasn't offered any. On the menu, it clearly stated 'unsweetened'. I also understand that better, i.e. more responsible meat costs more, boy do I ever understand that, and to be honest, I had forgotten that point about this place, so that can make up for the heftier than usual BBQ prices. I still think the music was too loud, even taking different tastes into consideration. Having to yell across the table was a bit much. But I do love that the owner, whoever Joe is, takes the time to read his reviews and comment. And as I said, yes, I have been spoiled by Texas and Memphis, so just ignore me. :) read more

The place: The aroma of smoked wood/meat permeated the air once we came within 10 feet of the building. I think this helped prepare us/ primed us for what we hoped to be a great meal. I don't eat a lot of meat, so I actually didn't loooove the smell of the inside of the shack, but we ate outside, and that was quite pleasurable. Service was helpful, prompt, great. The taste: We ordered the bbq seitan sandwich and some vinegar slaw (for me) and a full rack of baby back ribs and cornbread (for him). They said they ran out of onions, so they offered to put Brussels sprouts on my sandwich. That made me really happy. I love Brussels sprouts, but as a surprise to me, there were onions on it too! Score. Love my veggies. The husband and I also tasted all 5 bbq sauces (Carolina gold, Texas, house, Kansas city, and the really spicy one) by putting dollops onto our plate, prior to our food arriving and using our fingers. I recommend trying that. Maybe not with the super spicy one, but each one is really something special. My seitan sandwich, even though some of it ended up in places around and near my mouth, was delicious - juicy, a bit sweet, nice crunch. overall, really satisfying. My husband was happy to have half of a rack left for dinner tomorrow night, since I'm leaving him to fend for himself. My face: Covered in sauce....a true sign that there was a job well done. The wet naps they give you at the end of the meal are far superior to what they give you at buffalo wild wings. Our meal, without drinks, was $40 prior to tip. Really happy that we tried this place, and glad that it's not a far walk from our place. We'll be back, smoke shack. read more

Smoke Shack - BBQ seitan sandwich. Or is it sammich. Yum. - Barbeque Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The meat here is AMAZING! It's all excellently cooked and tastes beautiful. That said, the food itself leaves something to be desired. There is almost nothing delivered alongside your meat dish. You order meat and get no veggies, almost no side, and overall the meal itself was a bit of a disappointment. Given how much I pay for a dish I would hope that it could be a little more balanced, with some sort of vegetables to accompany my meal. 5 Star meat, but only a 4 star experience. read more

Take my money, Smoke Shack! Take it and bring me tasty meats! The good outweighs the bad here but I will dwell on the bad because the Smoke Shack is so close to five stars and I want to see them get there. Just fix the issues and I will fill a blue book with an essay on how good this place is. The ribs are awesome. The pulled pork is delectable and does not come slathered in sauce. It comes ready to be doused in the sauce of your choosing (or left as is, which is tasty). The "house" sauce is the best of the variety of sauces they provide. Give them all a chance but I left there wishing I could buy the house sauce at my local grocery store. The homemade potato chips are fantastic. I was using them as a vehicle for sauce as well. Finally, let's address the missing star. Most of the (or the preferred) seating is outside. Which on the Friday my group went there was perfect due to the recent return of tolerable temperatures. However, the outside is completely uncovered. Which means someone (in our case, me) is likely to get a face full of sunshine until the sun ducks behind the nameless redbrick building to the west. Second, this place is really close to the lake. At about the same time the sun is getting out of your way the seagulls are returning to their roosts (at the festival grounds, I imagine). Luckily there were no casualties on this day but two of the party did narrowly miss getting white washed. I don't want to ruin the back porch feel but a trellis would provide a little more comfort and safety from above. The other reason for the missing star is that at 7pm they were down to one order of brisket. I understand that it takes hours to make good BBQ and I know that "running out" is part of the BBQ life. But running out of brisket at 7pm seems like poor planning. One of our group got the last bit of brisket (not me) while the others who wanted it had to settle for second choice. Fix these issues and it's an easy five stars. read more

Much room to improve! The interior of the restaurant was beautiful. I loved the intimate setting, felt kind of like a secret hideout, definitely not in the middle of the city. However, the service was pretty awful. I got there at 5:30 on a Friday so it was pretty dead. There were three hostesses, but the party of 3 I was with had to wait five minutes for two of the hostesses to seat a couple in front of us, while the one hostess just stood there at the front awkwardly waiting for the other two to come rescue her. Our waiter was very inattentive and looked uncomfortable as well. I understand that this is a newer restaurant, but every worker we encountered in there seemed like this was their first job in the restaurant business. The food came out pretty quickly, and it definitely smelled amazing. It's cool how they have all of their different bbq sauces on the table so you can try all of them and decide which is your favorite before dousing your food in it. I had a bbq seitan sandwich. Yes, a bbq place with a vegan option! Pretty awesome in my book. However, I question the bun being vegan. Furthermore, they claim that the bun is hand crafted, but quite honestly it tasted like an off brand white bun that you could get anywhere. Nothing at all special about it. Not even toasted. I ended up taking the guts out of my bun because it was killing the flavor of my sandwich. If Smoke Shack develops a true "hand-crafted" bun and their service improves, I think it would be an awesome place. I'm looking forward to trying it again once they've had a while to perfect their service and hopefully their menu too. read more

Worst bite in Milwaukee. I ordered the 3 meat plate; everything but one of the sides was cold. There was only the slightest hint of smoke and the brisket was dry. A middle aged man behind the bar tried hard to get us to sit outside despite the rain. He then sat us in the furthest corner. We are clean and well-dressed, I'm not sure what his deal was. Our waitress was super sweet and the only reason we did not complain. Pass on this place if you know real BBQ read more

So much meat. I'm not even at one of George T's attic parties and the place is just full of meat. It's not a big place, and unlucky timing could leave you waiting outside for a table when the seats and bar fill up. No reservation ability either, which is kinda nice when you're seated as you shouldn't be rushed when enjoying barbecue that wasn't rushed I. The cooking process. The beer list is a little esoteric of you only drink pisswater domestic lights, but Bob/Robert behind the bar (ask about his elbow lump) has a pretty good feel for beers and cocktails. The food is the selling point though, and you can have it your way. Order by weight, mix and match, coat it in sauce or eat it au natural. The brisket and pulled pork are solid, but I've managed to miss out on ribs on each of my visits for some strange reason. Maybe next trip? The rib tips and candied bacon are tasty, but the fried okra was inconsistent (once good, once slimy). For sides, I usually stick with the sweet potato fries, although the beans were okay. Now that I'm writing this ahead of my weekend trip back to MKE, I think I know where I'll be for dinner on Saturday. read more

Last week I had the pleasure of paying the Smoke Shack a little visit while on my super quick biz trip in MKE. The wonderful Rachel F had been itching to try this spot out herself, so I was thrilled to give them a shot being both of our first times here! Being a Wednesday night it was surprisingly busy, even for a later dinner crowd, but we were seated right away, which was great. It really does look like a run down little shack, old reclaimed wood abound, a non-descript kind of run -down (purposely) exterior and a small hanging sign. Cool! We shared an order of pulled pork egg rolls which were delicious, thick and filled to the brim with wonderfully sauced and tender pulled pork. Yum!! For my main I went with the Full rack of ribs and a side of Brussel sprouts and macNCheese. The Mac was awesome and the sprouts were well done, not overly seasoned, so I enjoyed them a bunch! That all being said the real winner was the ribs. A full rack normally puts me in the ICU with a food coma for days, but these were succulent, fall off the bone and surprisingly light for pork ribs. I cleaned all but 2 or 3 ribs and could have easily finished the rest but decided to behave myself for a change. I really enjoyed that they provided you with add your own BBQ sauces at your table. Each from a different style of BBQ, from memory there was a St. Louis style, a Kansas Style and a Texas style.. My fave hands down was the Kansas sauce! It'll probably be awhile before I'm back in MKE again, but when I do return, I think I might need to come back for a Smoke Shack BBQ fix! Eatcrest Out! read more

Ordered -Pulled chicken: delicious -Pulled pork: extra delicious -Mac n cheese: good, wasn't preferred style (no cheddar taste_ -Cornbread: bad, cold and tasted out of the box -BBQ sauces: all are on the table and pretty standard, good but nothing special Staff -Normal, friendly Atmosphere -Very casual, home-y -We lucked out to get a table but seating is very limited Would I go again? Yes, to get good meat/bbq fix but likely not on the regular read more

I was going to rate it 4 stars, but went back for brunch. Seriously, go there for brunch. It is so good! AND, you get a free cinnamon bun! If that didn't persuade you, the meats will. The pulled chicken is probably the best I have ever had. A lot of times, pulled chicken can get dry. The chicken here is so good and not dry at all. I love all the sauces too! The first time we went there, hubby and I shared a sampler plate. Don't regret this at all - everything was awesome. We also got fried green tomatoes, which were also delish. When we went back for brunch, we each got a variation on eggs benedict. Both were tasty (mine could have used a tad more hollandaise sauce, but that was my only issue). And like I mentioned before, free cinnamon bun! You know the way to my heart. It is pretty small inside. Sit at the bar for a shorter wait. read more

I finally got to eat at the SS! I really wanted to love this place but I only liked it. To start off with we got there at what was apparently the end of brunch but were given brunch menus just to be told that brunch was over. Lol so why did you give us them then? We were seated facing a wall and front entrance. I know the place is small but this was kind of weird. The food came and was good but why on gods green earth do you get a choice of COLD BBQ sauces? It would be much better to be served warm sauce and probably more cost effective. The service was good. This is not a bad review but just don't know what all the hype is about. Very average and a bit over priced. But it is in the 3rd ward. read more

Second Review: Just as amazing if not more. i thought it was going to be weird sitting by other people but it wasn't. It was Ah-mazing. The food was crazy awesome just like last time, but at a better price! :) I talk about this place constantly... It is wayyy too good to not try at least once in your life... I know I will be there on those amazing summer days/nights to eat on that deck that is starting to look absolutely fantastic. Keep up the AMAZING work! read more

[edited: please see comments at the end] The smoke shack is great in theory but comes up short in numerous places. If you know what to expect going in then perhaps you can avoid disappointment. Upon entering you will notice that there is really no wait area and that seating is very limited. If it is busy you may be outside or perhaps if it is lighter then you can wait around the bar area. The first thing you need to know going in is that the ribs are of very limited supply. They don't start serving them until 5 and when they are gone they are gone. The first time I was unaware so I just ordered the brisket. The second time I arrived at 5:30. While waiting for our table we overheard someone tell the hostess that they were out of baby back ribs. It was 5:50pm. I was disheartened because I wanted to secure a rack. Once we were up we were seated with another couple as they are now doing a communal style seating. Something that didn't happen on my first visit. Once the awkward first date couple departed we were good to go and a lively older couple were seated with us. It was the gentleman's third trip there and he was hoping to get the ribs this time around. The appetizers are nothing to write home about. The stuffed poblano is a good idea but not at almost $7. Don't plan on sharing it. You only get one. I did inquire about the rib situation and expressed that i was disappointed. The waiter told me that there was another round on and those would be pulled off at 7pm. I asked if i could get a rack of those. After checking with the kitchen we were good to go. I advised the gentleman sitting with me of the situation so he could get in on it. I felt bad that his luck securing these ribs was so poor. It turns out I got the last rack and he was again let down. I ended up sharing some with him and his wife. What is all the fuss about? The price doesn't justify what you get with the ribs. Before concluding I would like to add that the brisket is rather good and done well. The ribs are too hard to get. The appetizers are basic from the mac and cheese to the poorly done rib tips. In all honesty it's not worth trying to find parking for this crap shoot mediocre experience. While nicely decorated the wait times are too large, the waiting area non existent, some items cannot be obtained which is poor at a "BBQ" joint. This is the first time in my years of dining that I was unable to get ribs more then once at a rib joint. This restaurant is more of a rough draft. It looks good on paper but hasn't been fully realized. [edited remark 4/19/12] Since Joe obviously cares about his customers I will venture back in the future and this review will be edited to encompass all of my experiences with heavy emphasis on the upcoming one since changes have been made. This is the fairest option as things with all new businesses do change. read more

Considering I'm not really a BBQ kinda gal, this place was pretty good. Of course, only I could manage to drive up to Wisconsin without my I.D. or debit card (thank god I was visiting my sister or I would have been S.O.L.) So, unfortunately no drinks for me. They did have some that looked pretty good too. I wasn't super hungry so I ordered the pulled pork eggrolls, which were really good. If I had more of an appetite I probably would have gone with the brisket sandwich. Quite a few sauces are at the table, but my food came with sauce already on so I decided not to get too crafty, but I wouldn't mind trying them if I went back sometime. Cool fact: they tore down an old barn to get the wood that is on the outside of the restaurant. Super cute. read more

Best BBQ I have ever had!! We ordered BBQ pork nachos the a starter, they were so delicious!! For my main I ordered pulled pork with pimento mac & cheese as a side. Best Mac & cheese I have ever had also!! The sauces they provide for the meat are all so delicious as well. Everyone at our party of 6 loved their meals. The atmosphere is so cool too, and they play great music as well! My absolute fav place to eat at in Milwaukee! read more

Being quite familiar with the success of the other Sorge Family restaurants I waited for a quieter time to head on over and give the Smoke Shack a try. My family and I headed there around 3:00 on a Sunday afternoon and were sat immediately. (Just have to throw out - being upset about waiting for a while to be sat at a restaurant that was this highly anticipated in the first week of opening is a little silly. It's to be expected!) Our waiter was extremely attentive, patient with our youngest dining companion (a very demanding 3 year old) and was extremely knowledgeable about the entire menu. We ordered the beef brisket and pulled pork and spent the remainder of lunch arguing over whose meal was better (we never came to a consensus.) Quite possibly my favorite part of the meal is that the meat comes un-sauced. You have the option of four sauces that are on the table. You choose which type and how much. Over saucing is my number one complaint about BBQ pretty much everywhere else, so I was thrilled about this. My favorites had to be the Kansas City & Carolina Gold sauces. So different from each other, but so delicious. As a condiment lover, having the option of 4 different sauces is a huge win in my book - feels like you're getting 4 different types of meat in one meal! For sides we tried the fried corn, sweet potato fries, kettle chips and macaroni and cheese and enjoyed all of them. The fried corn is unique and delicious. The sweet potato fries were crispy (no one likes soggy fries) and the macaroni and cheese hit the spot. The star of the show for me (besides the meat of course) was the cornbread. I literally raved about it after each bite. Not the least bit dry or mealy. Best I've ever had. (The 3 year old agreed and kept asking for more "cake" so I wasn't alone in fighting my dad for his piece!) And just when we thought the meal couldn't have gotten any better? We tried the whiskey ice cream. Not a huge fan of whiskey myself I wasn't excited about it, but after one bite I was hooked. It's sweet and has a hint of cinnamon and is unbelievably creamy. No matter how full you are, do yourself a favor and order a scoop of this - you will NOT be disappointed. I didn't think the food was overpriced. It's definitely not a "cheap" lunch but by no means was crazy expensive. The 5 of us had lunch for roughly the same amount at a chain restaurant the weekend before for about the same price and the food was NO WHERE near as good. I left already plotting my return and have been dreaming of that meal since. read more

Can I just live here? Seriously, Joe.There's got to be room upstairs for a small bed. The outside might look like they are getting ready to film the next installment in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series,but that's part of it's appeal. The dining room seats less than 50,and there's no real place to wait. It doesn't matter though,because the will text you when your table is ready so go enjoy the rest of the Third Ward. If you get there before they sell out, try the ribs (after 5pm). If the ribs are gone,try the brisket sandwich. If the brisket is gone, go earlier. Good food sells out fast. read more

DON'T TOUCH MY FOOD! HOWEVER......This is exactly what the manager of the restaurant did when we made a comment about the freshness of the buns used for the BBQ brisket and Pulled Pork sandwich. After commenting to the server that the buns didn't seem fresh and were falling apart, the server very politely asked if we wanted to have the kitchen remake the sandwich. Our answer....no thank you we'll work around it. However, we asked that she please relay the message to the kitchen. Within a minute, a very unfriendly manager walked up to the table, asked about the problem and then grabbed the plate of food from my mother and stuck his fingers on the bun to check for freshness. Without asking how we'd like the situation handled he quickly took the plate of food away and said they would make another. We never asked for new food and we certainly didn't invite the manager to take the plate and touch the food. Our general impression was he either didn't believe us or was irritated that we commented on its freshness. Moments later the manager came over and said he was sorry for the inconvenience. We attempted to discuss his handling of the situation however, his only response was, well we are making you another one. Wrong answer buddy. At least give the guest the option of asking for new food before you assume that's what will satisfy them. He just didn't get it. If the manager had approached the problem with the same concern as the server, there would have been no issue. Bottom line....I can't recommend this restaurant. The overall experience was not good. The BBQ was average and the pricing seems expensive. 2 sandwiches with 1 side each and 2 glasses of water would have been $26. read more

This place pissed me off about 3 weeks ago. I had the opportunity to take my folks for lunch. Thinking this will be my chance to try the baby back ribs. You see I have been here twice before for dinner and ," sorry we're out of the ribs"! Well as it turns out you can't get ribs at lunch either!! I was told by the waiter that the ribs aren't available until the dinner menu after 4pm. Seriously with a name like "Smoke Shack" you should always have ribs available from the minute you open your doors until you run out for the day. PERIOD Everything else was fantastic but after getting burned on the ribs in 3 visits, I don't know if I'll be back read more

I decided to take a date here during the Milwaukee Downtown dining week. We went on a Tuesday at around 8pm. We waited about 15 minutes for a table. They were no longer seating outside. We were sat at an extra long table meant for 6. Our server was nice but did seem distracted and frazzled. The piped in blues music was catchy but too loud to have intimate conversation. We ordered off the special menu they had for the Downtown Dining week. I picked the Craft Beer, Kansas City Egg Rolls, and the Pulled Pork with chips. My date ordered the Texas Mule, Fried Green Tomatoes, and the Personal Three Meat Combo with sweet potato fries. It took about 5 minutes for me to receive my beer (Eastside Dark - Lakefront Brewery). What I got was a cold bottle of beer and a warm mason jar. I poured the beer myself into the warm jar. A warm container and a cold beer do not mix well. My date received her mixed drink 5 minutes after I received mine. We were finally able to toast. My beer had warmed considerably. Our appetizers were the best part of the meal. The sauce pairing with the Fried Green Tomato was exceptional. I only learned that the sauce is a Chipotle aioli because I overheard our waitress inform the table behind us we got the last cup of it for the night. The Kansas City Egg Rolls were also very good. Although pairing a pulled pork appetizer with a pulled pork main dish was a mistake I made. This place seems to excel at small plate or tapas type dishes and they may want to consider a re-branding. About 10 minutes later our main course came. My date received her order as requested. I received a pile of sweet potato fries instead of chips. It was about 5 minutes before the waitress came back to the table and informed me she gave the table behind me my order and that I received the other table's order. "I screwed up" was her refrain. She soon rushed off to the kitchen and returned with a side bowl of chips 5 minutes later. You get what you order here. I received a plate with a pile of sweet potato fries on one half and a pile of pulled pork on the other. My date received her three meats (chicken, pork, sausage) and fries. I have been to other BBQ places and it is a general rule of thumb people like condiments and complimentary fixings with BBQ adventures. Even a couple slices or white bread or a roll would have made eating a pile of meat much more enjoyable. I attempted to scoop up pulled pork with my chips to make the task of eating a half pound of pulled pork less of a challenge. The pulled pork is very bland. No spice, or bite to it. It's merely an empty pallet and a way to get the various sauces into your mouth besides drinking them. There are 4 sauces to choose from and plenty of it available in squeeze bottles. The bottles are not washed between guests which for a BBQ place where people use their hands to dine, may be something they want to look into. I enjoyed the chips and the fries. They both had a nice crunch. The sweet potato was a nice complement to tangy meat sauces. My date offered me a few bites of her sausage. If we return to this establishment, I would stick to that menu item. The sausage was more of a hot link with good spice, heat, and texture. I was very excited to try BBQ here in Milwaukee after years of having great BBQ in Austin. I was very disappointed. The power of the internet allows humans to homogenize experiences. It did not feel that the waitstaff or kitchen were committed to the overall theme of the restaurant. Or even on board to offer a great BBQ experience like you may have in cities famous for BBQ experiences. The menus is also very pricey. You can find less expensive and better quality BBQ at Iron Grate BBQ or even Milwaukee Smoked BBQ. read more

I have to admit I was not very hungry when we went to the Smoke Shack for dinner and that has probably warped my opinion. The sauces are all good. We had the platter of all the different meats: pork, brisket, sausage, and chicken. We also had a whole slab of ribs. Everything tasted good. I have lived down in North Carolina and traveled extensively across the South, so I am pretty picky about my barbeque. This was a long ways from the best, but it was perfectly adequate. I will certainly return. The service was good and the atmosphere is excellent. I am sure I will never find truly great barbeque in Wisconsin, so this place may be as good as I can expect. read more

I love BBQ. Would it be sacrilegious to say my favorite part of the meal was a veggie item at a BBQ restaurant? I mean I really liked my brisket sloppy joe but the fried green tomatoes blew me away. Absolutely Delicious! We ordered take out but got there early so we had to wait a bit at the bar for pick up. I loved the atmosphere here, everyone seemed to be having a great time, and the bartender (who also took our order) was super friendly. They quoted me a 20 minute wait for our food and they were spot on. We took it back to our hotel and everything was packaged nicely and stayed hot. Like I said, the Fried Green Tomatoes were delicious--a fresh green tomato slice that has a light crisp when you bite in. The dipping sauce that is paired with it (a chipotle lemon dip) was perfect. I would gladly order this again in a heartbeat. My brisket sloppy joe was also really good. Flavorful tender brisket, green pepper and onion in their Texas BBQ sauce. Drooling? Yes, I don't blame you. I got a side of sweet potato fries--excellent, well made and not mushy. And red cabbage coleslaw--not a fave, it almost had an ammonia quality to it. This place is small. Many reviews say that they sometimes run out of more popular items by the end of the day. They're not kidding. By 830pm they were out of ribs. All in all, this place is solid. read more

I had one of the most delicious pulled pork sandwiches at the Smoke Shack. They serve the meals without sauce so you can choose you own. I loved the Texas BBQ sauce best. It was tomato based with a little kick. The sweet potato fries and chips are both great options that are homemade. I was surprised how much I liked the sweet potato fries. They had just the right amount of sweet/salty and were nice and crisp on the outside. Will be back for more, Smoke Shack! read more

This is one of my favorite eateries in Milwaukee. It's perfect for dinner with friends whether you have a small or large group. I've eaten inside, on the patio, and at the bar- all had speedy service. Cocktails were pretty good, especially the old fashioned. They have okay beer selections. I usually got the fried green tomato appetizer which was very good, and easy to split with another person because it comes with four tomato slices. The mac and cheese is unbelievable. Highly recommend as a side for any meat platter (pork plate did southern food justice). Unfortunately when you order the meat platter it only comes with one side. I wish it came with two because the price to add another would have been over the top, and I think the meal would be more well rounded with an extra side. The place is perpetually out of corn bread so you should probably go early before they run out (I assume it's that good?) At each table are four bottles featuring different kinds of sauces. The best is hands down the house sauce. All in all, I love this place. I can't wait to go back. read more

Stopped in again today to try a few more things and was hoping for more than I got. My current go-to place for wings is Red Rock. I don't know how they make their wings, but they're the best I know of downtown. I tried SS's wings today and although I think they were well done for what they were, but they weren't for me. I think the idea is good, but just not perfected yet. They were a bit too smokey, not crispy enough, and maybe a little underdone and greasy. I'm no expert, but I'm not sure you can just smoke them at the same temp you do other things and get the results that people are looking for. The other thing which wasn't as good as earlier in the week was the cornbread. Last time I could taste some corn flavor, but this time if I had closed my eyes and taken a bite, I would have just thought it was cake. I like the moistness, but it needs more corniness. Get some corn flavor and possibly actual corn kernels in there. The pulled chicken sandwich and smoked sausage sandwich were both pretty good. The chicken was cooked very well and was very moist, my only gripe was a little too much rosemary flavor. The wings had the same issue actually. Rosemary can get overpowering fast, and if you have an actual piece in a bite, that's definitely going to overpower. The sausage sandwich was really good. Nice spiciness, and good peppers and onions on top. Although the bun looked a bit big, it wasn't as tough as I thought it might be. I'll also restate what others have said about the price, it cam be a bit much, especially for lunch. This was a gripe I heard on three different occasions: a couple coworkers, another coworker that I didn't even know had gone, and the couple sitting next to us when I went today. read more

Well, I showed up on a Friday, and they told me the smoker had broken the previous night and they had no pulled pork or brisket. What a let-down! I was prepared to get something lame instead, and resolved that this would probably ruin my Smoke Shack first impression. However, it was Friday, so the special was Mac n Cheese... with shrimp, okra, and cilantro and then drizzled with Texas BBQ sauce. FACE. MELTING. GOOD. Holy crap. Seriously. Best Mac n Cheese I've had in my entire life. Then I got the check... $10? I was expecting $15. That bowl was as big as my head! Double win! So, I thought this would be a 1 star rating... I came for Brisket! However, that ballin' Mac n Cheese redeemed you all the way back to uphold a 4 star from me. We'll see if the Brisket can earn an update and 5 stars NEXT time... read more

Went for lunch today, which I'm told is smart because it tends to be popular. I went with the brisket entree with the "new" cornbread fried okra. The Mrs. had the pulled pork sandwhich with the chips. For the app, we opted for the candied bacon which also came with some sweet potato fries. Bacon was tasty and interesting. My mind made it unbeatable, but in reality it wasn't half bad. Fries were very good, and despite the craze for them all over the place, these were some of the best I've had. Pulled pork sandwhich was delicious and had an excellent smoked flavor. Very healthy serving, and with your choice of sauce, I don't see how this can't be a fan favorite. Chips were fantastic, but they put some kind of slaw on the plate as well which almost made me forget how great everything else was. The brisket was smoked nicely, but I wish that there was more of a flavor from the rub they used. I normally won't use any sauce when I come across killer brisket, but I opted for theirs in this case. Loved the Texas and House with a pinch of the 24 Habanero sauce to keep it interesting. I don't know how new of a menu item the okra is, but it was delightful. The cornbread "breading" was perfect, and made us both wonder how many other things we could fry it in if given the opportunity. On the subject of cornbread, my entree came with a piece that almost made me cry how great it was. We were very happy with our time here today, and will definitely make a trip back at some point. I'd like to try the ribs to get the full spectrum of their eats, but they aren't available until after 4pm. I don't know if that was just for today, or if that's how they roll. read more