It is official, I am in love with Milwaukee. This little love shack may or may not have something to do with this statement. Why do I call it the love shack you ask? Easy. I love.. the pulled pork. Succulent, juicy, smokey pork with several sauce options on the side. Sauce is not necessary though, this little piggy has plenty of flavor (and made me go wee, wee, wee) I love.. the ribs. Fall off the bone ribs with a nice smokey bark, dry rubbed and awesome flavor. Again, sauce is optional. I love.. dat sausage. It's juicy, it's got snap, it's sized above average and it's shaped adequately. Wait. Never mind.. (but get the sausage though). I love.. the corn bread! It is so good, it almost reminds me of a corny pound cake. Sweet, and much more cake-like than bread-like in flavor. I love.. the sweet potato fries. Crispy, sweet sticks of orange hued goodness. Pretty awesome. Lastly, I really REALLY dig the style of this joint. Super cute styling and decor. I can't wait to come back! read more

Awesome little joint! The ambience and weather was perfect to sit outdoors. Service was great. We shared a sampler among 4 of us and enjoyed everything on it. The fried corn was the best for me since I never had it before.The meats were all smoked and flavorful. I like my rib meats to fall of the bone but here it didn't. Brisket and pulled pork made up for it! Will definitely return! read more

Smoke Shack - Smoked sampler plate for 2-4 people - Barbeque Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Love this place! The decor, the music, the service... the FOOD. Everything was excellent! I'm excited to have a barbecue place doing it right in Milwaukee. I'd go back right now. As a vegetarian, I was super excited to see not one boring mushroom choice, but two separate vegetarian entree options! Although the BBQ seitan sandwich sounded scrumptious, I couldn't decide which side I wanted with it, so on my first visit I ordered all sides. Mac & cheese is really good and not too cheesy; perfectly complimented by the Kansas City BBQ sauce. Greens are super tender and have a nice, bright acidity. Also loved the poblano corn chowder, but wish I could have gotten just a cup; there's only one size option. Our group ordered the pulled pork nachos as an appetizer and they were awesome. They do NOT skimp on the pork - we actually ran out of chips! Husband got the old fashioned and deemed it goooood (said in a real deep voice). Dining pals also tried the ribs, brisket & pulled pork as entrees. All rave reviews. the baked sweet potato side was probably the least popular item ordered, so maybe go for the fries instead - you can DIP them! Have I mentioned the dipping? Favorite part: 5 sauces available at the table. All were really good and quite different from one another. It was fun to mix & match and try a li'l sauce with everything! Luckily some free wet-naps arrived with our bill. Highly recommended. Our visitors from out of state thoroughly enjoyed their experience and couldn't get over how cool the place looked and the fantastic blues music that complimented our entire experience. read more

3.5 stars Awesome ambiance - loved the smoke shack decor. Limited seating but efficiently arranged. Nice selection of beer. Food was solid as well. I had the brisket sandwich and my husband had the pulled pork. Both were moist and tasty and we enjoyed the variety of sauces (Kansas City was my fave). Kettle chips and sweet potato fries were decent but nothing special. The mac and cheese was disappointing - rather bland, even my toddler wouldn't eat it. I agree with other reviewers that they really should have ribs available whenever they're open. The explanation didn't really make sense to me as many of the BBQ joints here in Hogtown (TO) slow-smoke their meat onsite and still have ribs readily available at lunch and dinner. Otherwise, definitely a good spot if you're in the mood for meat. read more

I've walked passed this place so many times and it never really peaked my interest. It wasn't until I saw their advertisement for their savory sweet potato pancakes topped with pulled pork on Instagram that I knew I must grab brunch there on if these mornings. My expectations were exceeded. Not only was the meat delicious, but the sweet potato pancake were light and full of flavor. You can't get brunch like this anywhere else! read more

I drove 90 minutes from Madison to have lunch at Smoke Shack, and it was well worth it. The food was hot, smokey and delicious. The service was top-notch. And the atmosphere was perfect for a BBQ place. I'm still having dreams about the candied bacon and the pecan pie, so don't pass on the appetizers or deserts! read more

The brisket is tasty, the cocktails well made, and the fries are like, super delicious and perfectly crispy/soft. One really weird thing is that none of the sauces are actually spicy. In fact, one of them is mustard. They could do a little bit of risk-taking with this, I know Milwaukee palates are a little bland [hey, I'm a native, I get it], but a little heat with your meat is sweet. . . read more

Congrats http://www.cbs58.com/story/30233036/milwaukee-restaurant-makes-list-of-top-pancakes Milwaukee Restaurant Makes List of Top Pancakes read more

In all honesty, this is one of THE BEST meals I've ever had in Milwaukee! The atmosphere is awesome, fun, casual, down to earth and real. Our waitress, Megan, was a peach! Our drinks never went empty, everything was perfectly paced and she was just a genuine joy. Value- seriously worth every penny spent. We started with the Roasted Poblano Corn Chowder. So perfectly balanced. Heads up- the "cups" are HUGE. And for only $3.50! Then we ventured on to splitting the candy bacon (it comes with sweet potato fries) and some Kansas City Egg Rolls. Both are highly recommended. We went on to split the 4 meat combo with the Mac N Cheese and an extra side of the fried corn on the cob. They split it perfectly for us and didn't charge extra for a plate charge or anything. At this point I had started to slow down and know my limit but I sampled my portion of everything and seriously moaned out loud through it all. SO. GOOD. At the end we capped it off with the Bourbon Bacon Brownie and the Whiskey Ice Cream. My suggestion- bring your appetite and a friend and share your way through the menu. Also, don't be shy, this place is for eating. Try all the sauces! Oh, and a stretchy waistband may be advisable as well. Will definitely be back. Repeatedly. read more

We had two meat samplers, for 5 very hungry adults- . Service was a tad slow, but we were meeting friends after years and were in NO rush. We were told the ribs would be served in almost an hour as they don't come out of the smoker till 5 PM, so we were good with that. They say on the menu that some things are subject to availability. I appreciate that, because I'd rather have good stuff than old stuff. The decor was great. Bathrooms clean. read more

I'm going to be quick on this one because this place warrants little serious consideration. Pro's Near a lot of cougars that love BBQ It's not MJ's The meat came out properly cooked and I felt no concern for food borne illness. The waitress didn't smell. Con's The staff was really indifferent and uncomfortable to talk to. Meat was salty, lacking in direction, and somewhat annoying. After I have good meat, i don't need dessert. That's called hot dog in a hallway syndrome. The staff reminds me of talking to cousins I don't remember after a dead aunts funeral. Blah, bring your in-laws here and insist they pay. Really not that good. read more

What up Smoke Shack! Word to the weary - if you're claustrophobic, don't come here. This joint is crazy tiny and crazy packed. So if you're not into waiting for a table I'd steer yourself in a different direction. But if you love yourself some BBQ and you have a little patience then you'll be in heaven. From the second you walk in the door you can smell the smoke and sweet sauce. The tables are community tables, so cozy up to your neighbor and throw back shots of the BBQ sauces on your table. We loved our dishes. I had the sloppy joe with sweet potato fries (which were ridiculously amazing). My hubs had the brisket and mac and cheese. It was all SO good that I forgot to save room for dessert. Damn. Our waiter was a little, er, distracted and slow you could say. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he was super busy and it was the week that they opened. The décor is absolutely fitting for a shack. We love the new addition to our little third ward! read more

This definitely does not beat Franklin BBQ in Austin, but it is much better than any other local BBQ place. The service was excellent when I was there for lunch on a Thursday around 130pm. They were out of wings, but I was there for the pulled pork and brisket. The sauce is on the side so you can taste the meat and add extra flavor as desired. The pulled pork was delicious. The Brisket was on the fatty side. I recommended that they offer it lean or fatty, like authentic southern BBQ places do. The sauces were all very good. I dont have a favorite. The greens were so good. I will definitely be going back. Highly recommend this restaurant to anyone that loves BBQ. Get there early, the place is small and the meat does run out. read more

My husband loves this place... meat is naked and several sauces adorn the table. I finally agreed to join him here and was shocked at all the great veg options!! Seitan BBQ sandwhich is super good... I love to add a little Kentucky Gold from the table. Chips are great, deep fried corn on the cob even better! Cole slaw is so-so. My husband loves the platter and has plenty leftovers to enjoy for a few days. Husband's favorite is also the bacon brownie with the whiskey ice cream. I tried a seasonal fruit cobbler and it was not as good, rhubarb pieces so giant they didn't cook down next to smaller pieces that did... sad. So I skip dessert and keep on drinking... Handcrafted cocktails are great, served in cute mason jars. Love the shacky feel to the place! read more

We had a pleasant evening here recently. Great outdoor patio and the inside is really cool too. BBQ-ued food was pretty tasty. I had the Texas Popper on the appetizer menu for a meal and it was great. I was worried that there might be too much cream cheese but everything was well balanced and the arugula was a perfect addition. The vinegar slaw was made with all red cabbage which was a bit too...red cabbagey for me. We enjoyed talking with the manager at the bar. read more

Smoke Shack - Texas Popper! - Barbeque Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Food - 4 Ambience - 4 Price - 2 Portion size - 2 Food was decent but not the best barbecue I have had. I had a meat plate- chicken and pulled pork and found it odd that it didn't come with bread. However, waitress was nice enough to accommodate with a complementary bun. Overall it was okay experience but I feel there are better barbecue restaurant for the price. read more

Some damn good BBQ in Milwaukee. They do a good job going for the southern feel with many sauces for you to put on your BBQ orders. I got the pulled pork which came out nice and juicy. I can't remember which sauces I tried but I enjoyed all of them! Oh and a solid beer selection too. A Spotted Cow for your BBQ perhaps? Don't mind if I do! read more

Love the food. Great BBQ and fantastic kettle chips. Fries are pretty good, not crazy about the cornbread. I've been once in person and ordered once from a hotel room. In person, we adored the different sauces but ordering, we couldn't get any sauce at all. Hubs and I had to buy an entire jar and we were getting on a plane home in the morning, so half went to waste. It was also traumatic to have to agree on one sauce, as Hubs likes things mild as oatmeal and I want my BBQ to make me cry. But hey, thanks for delivering to a hotel! read more

This place kills it for a local BBQ spot in MKE. Plus the service was great. Stop in and say hi to Lydia. First time here tonight and the waitress recommended the pork lion and was she right. This goes great with all the different BBQ sauce options Having set this dinner up to catch up w old friends, we sure had fun trying all the sauces. The hot has a kick. I recommend getting a combo so you can try two different meats. Plus a side. Can't go Wrong w Mac and cheese but seasonal veggies were great. Start w corn bread and a beer. read more

Solid bbq. I've never had such tender brisket. My wife tasted it and was jealous because it was better than hers which is a pretty good feat. We also had the chicken. Both were good. Very light smoke flavor. We also tried the fried green tomatoes. Another good choice. We will definitely be back. read more

Up Milwaukee on a charter not far from here. Ran over to get some real quick lunch. Got the wedge salad and pulled chicken (which they were nice enough to just throw on top). Salad ingredients were fresh. Amish pulled chicken also fresh. Just could have used more seasoning. The wedge salad only had two SMALL containers of the bleu cheese dressing. Barely enough to even taste. Portion sizes were large enough to fill a big man. Oh and service was excellent, but I was the ONLY customer in the place at 2:30 in the afternoon. read more

With the high reviews of this place I went in with high expectations. Unfortunately on the ribs that I ordered the meat was very dry. My friend returned his and ordered the sausage instead and it was dry as well. The meat was over cooked but we were told that it was up to par and normal. Maybe it was an off night. On a positive note, the staff was friendly and the service was prompt. read more

Staying in Milwaukee over the weekend on business. Ordered pulled chicken w/ KC BBQ, Mama's Creamy slaw, Whiskey ice cream. I also have to give special instructions since I am a celiac and gluten intolerant. Here is what I got: -Pulled chicken CHECK! -Vinegar slaw WITH THE SAUCE IN THE SLAW (WHO ORDERS SAUCE IN THE SLAW?) -Whiskey Ice cream CHECK I tried to call the business but you can barely hear the person on the other end. Kind of frustrating when you are trying to work and get stuff done before a meeting in the morning and just want to eat. The ice cream was good and the chicken tender and well seasoned though, so that saves it...but barely. read more

First time in the Midwest for a job and decided to hit up some BBQ before heading to Green Bay. I was recommended to check out the Historic Third Ward so decided on smoke shack. OMFG best pulled pork sammich I have ever shoved down my face! The different sauces and meat are sooooooo good. So if your are in the area get this. No exceptions. read more

Smoke Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Best BBQ in the State. The pulled pork is sublime followed only by the brisket. Tender, flavored with smoke and their house made sauces only increase your chance of BBQ-gasm. BBQ chips dusted with slice rub are the cherry on the sundae. read more

Ended up here after a fail at a recommended place a few block away. Could not be happier. Felt 100% at home. This is how I cook- This is how I would have a restaurant. We started with some fried green tomatoes. I've never had them before. My brother made me try them. They were really good. Onto some dinner. Meat!!!!! Chili= awesome! Brisket sandwich=awesome! combo sandwich=awesome rib tips=awesome burnt ends=awesome All of the sauces I tried were really good. The coleslaw is made with red cabbage which gives it a different look and is very good. The bartender who really knows his stuff was down home real, nice, funny and all around just a good guy. I will definitely be back. read more

This was an awesome experience! Everything about it was good, from the food to the service. We were seated right away and served beverages. The atmosphere was very authentic and rustic feeling which is always a good atmosphere for enjoying smoked meats. I had the shack daddy sandwich and it was amazing! The meats were perfectly portioned and had great moisture and flavor. Our waiter was very on top of everything and had a great attitude. It was overall a good experience and I will definitely be returning. read more

A colleague and I visited on a recent business trip and picked this place off of Yelp. I've lived down south for a significant portion of my life and I know BBQ. It was late and I didn't want to eat too heavy so I ordered a pork loin sandwich which came with sweet potato fries. I also ordered a local IPA. The sandwich was quite good; just large enough and cooked perfectly. They have a choice of sauces on the table that represent all the major players: Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Memphis. I tried them all but pretty much stuck with the Texas which had decent heat to it. The sweet potato fries were excellent. One thing that bothered me was that they only have beer in bottles. In Milwaukee, really? This is supposed to be a beer town and that means draft. Not a deal breaker but something they need to deal with. Decor is great, staff was friendly and attentive, restrooms clean. Like. read more

First time @SmokeShack and I am a huge fan. I joined my friend for an early evening dinner. We shared 2 appetizers: Fried Green Tomatoes with chipotle aioli, cilantro and lemon zest along with a Texas Popper stuffed with cream cheese and topped with onion, arugula and BBQ sauce. The only complaint on the Texas Popper is that you pay $7.50 for half of a poblano pepper. Sharing this appetizer between 2 people only allows for a "taste" to tantalize your tastebuds. We additionally enjoyed Texas Nachos topped with pulled pork and a fabulous Roasted Portobello sandwich. The Texas Nachos are considered to be an appetizer but honestly, it's a meal and then some! It was a mound that could easily serve 4 people. It lasted me 3 meals. My friend completely enjoyed the Portobello mushroom sandwich. Smoke Shack is where it's at! read more

Smoke Shack - Fried Green Tomatoes with chipotle aioli, cilantro and lemon zest along with a Texas Popper stuffed with cream cheese and topped with onion. - Barbeque Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This place is one of Milwaukee's jewels. I didn't know what to expect when I got there. but as soon as I entered, the smell of bbq confirmed I was in the right place. I order a brisket sandwich and it was perfect. Tender meat with the perfect smoked flavor. Great atmosphere as well with live music. Strongly recommended. read more

The service was not good, we were put in a corner booth and were forgotten about several times, the food was sub par as well, I expected fall off the bone ribs but would have settled for kind of tender, and ended up with meat that could barely be chewed, we took the leftovers with us for one more try but threw them out, if you are looking for amazing coleslaw this is the place, but that's about it. If I could give a 1/2 star I would but this site does not let you. read more

I don't consider myself a BBQ aficionado by any means, but I do like a good smoked meat. Having been to several in the area and while traveling, I do have to say that the Smoke Shack has it right. I have eaten there several times and each time has been exceptional. I especially enjoy the pulled pork and ribs. Be aware though - the ribs are in limited supply and only available after 5 pm currently (as it was explained to me, this is due to SS buying the whole hog). But each time I have gone I've always found something else to satisfy me if they are out. Try the nachos - pulled pork with fresh tomatoes, jalepenos (not the canned pickled variety) topped with Texas sauce and cream sauce. And for dessert - three words: Whiskey Ice Cream. Trust me you will not go away hungry (or eat the next day)! read more

Three Words. BBQ Egg Rolls. OMG, I still dream about these. Unreal good. I came to Milwaukee for a conference and was not expecting much in the way of good BBQ, and I felt like a hit the jackpot. Long wait times just didn't matter.... the food was worth it. I got the spare ribs and the egg rolls and they were worth every penny. The other guys from the conference with me raved about their brisket and their chili. Highly Recommended! read more

Awesome décor that's for sure! Smoke Shake is pretty a-ok at B-B-Q, at least in Milwaukee. If you're looking for actual, authentic Barbeque, SORRY!!! Do NOT, I repeat, Do NOT take anyone from Memphis, Kansas City, Texas, either of the Carolinas, or Chicago here and expect them to remain friends with you. This is highly Milwaukee-ized. Not bad, just not GREAT. read more

Love the Pulled Pork Nachos!!! We go back and back again for them! Really enjoy their Brunch too! Gotta have those Fried Green Tomatoes & the Burnt Ends Benedict! read more

Plan to be full - every time. This is our favorite place to eat in milwaukee. Comfort food, comfort drinks and bluesy atmosphere. Literally a "shack" but don't hesitate on entering as every single item on the menu is superb. My husbands favorite is the sloppy joe while our buddy Ken raves about the brisket....me...vegetarian...I can gorge on scrumptious sandwiches, decadent Mac n cheese....and holy Heaven even biscuits and gravy. If you love rich food - it's a must read more

I still have to have a disappointment from this restaurant! Everything I have tried is delicious: service, drinks, food are just excellent. The brisket is a must-have! Make sure to go early because they do run out of it. It is a fun concept to offer different sauces for everyone in the table instead of just having to choose one! Sides compliment every single meat they offer. (Mac n Cheese, cole slaw, and corn bread are the 3 top in my list!) Make sure to have time to wait because the place is small. It can get really crowded but never too loud. During the spring and summer they have an outside area that works perfectly for a non-rainy day. A must-try place. Make sure to go to the one in Downtown Milwaukee for a better feeling of what this place is. They recently opened one at the Mayfair collection but the best experience will be at the Downtown location. read more

I've dined here twice; once for lunch, once for carryout dinner. Both times, the food was very underwhelming. The pulled pork sandwich was mainly bread with little meat, and the ribs were dry. Plus for the carryout meal, they forgot my side and the BBQ sauce for my sandwich. Nice ambiance, but very overpriced for the quality of the food. Pick a different place for good BBQ. read more

Quick and friendly service. The food is delicious!!! You can't go wrong with anything you order off the menu.

Great brisket, melted in my mouth. Kyle was also helpful and the Tennessee lightning had a nice heat to it while also being sweet and sippable read more