Goddamn, their beer selection is impressive! Been in Pgh for about 2 months now, and I haven't been to another place that comes close to Smokin Joe's selection. To make things even better, the waitresses are really attentive, and if you are indecisive about what beer to get, they're fairly knowledgeable and will let you try several beers before you make a decision. The food is about the usual for bar food, however they do have specials for each day of the week (25 cent boneless chicken wings on Mondays, 75 cent sliders on Thursdays, etc). The Friday and Saturday crowd seems to be a mix of undergraduates and graduate students. Overall, it's a fairly chill and fun atmosphere. Smokin Joe's is probably the best place for beer in town. read more

They have a lot of beers and change up the bottle selection regularly. The food is normal bar type thing. Fries are definitely some of the best. That being said.... DO NOT sit at the tables, wait staff....umm not so good. By that I mean, dont know the menu, and certainly dont know the beers, won't check on you, and will screw up your bill. (It wasn't very busy: no excuse) Overall recommendation: Sit at the bar, order a draft and get an order of fries. read more

I used to LOVE to eat at Smokin' Joe's. They used to have really great food. However, now their food is REALLY bad.... I don't know what happened! I don't know if they got a new chef or new supplier.... but we go out of our way to avoid having dinner here, which is sad because we used to love it. read more

I was only here for beers at the bar during a Pens game, although the food coming out of the kitchen smelled like greasy bar food in the best way - perfect fries are like catnip to me. The special all afternoon Saturday was Yuengling for $2.50, although they do have a great selection of craft beers on tap and Belgian/craft beer in bottles. Our server was attentive and the right blend of "I have to wear this tank top because I'm a girl bartender" and laid-back. While the bar was full for the game, there were only 2 tables filled. I'm torn between reserving this for when I want a beer fix and trying food. What I experienced was a-okay though. read more

As a former Southside resident, Smoking Joe's has been a regular establishment for most occasions, in any and all weather and for any type of crowd. Despite my first check-in here, this is obviously not my first visit to the place, so this review will be a mashup of many trips. The last check in was this past Saturday a Pittsburgh Happy Hour Valentine's Day Barcrawl. I found my group towards the back of the bar by the pool table and within was greeted and attended to within 5 minutes of arrival. Joe's has a large list of rotating draft and craft beers so I naturally asked for the current specials and the stout selection. [It's currently chocolate stout season - which is my favorite] I was delighted to find that Joe's served Southern Tier's Chokolat [10% ABV American Imperial/Double Stout]. On average, Joe's has around 100 different types of Beer in house so you are sure to find just what you are hankering for. Being hungry, the waitress fetched me a menu, again, well between within the appropriate 5 minute window. The selection is standard American Pub food, ranging from Wings, loaded fries to sandwiches and wraps. Each day of the week during the 5-7pm happy hour there is a different food special so be sure to check back different days of the week. My personal favorite, however, are the Ribs. Joe's will always have my heart on the Ribs as they were the only location who was willing to serve me at 1am on a Saturday during Snowmageddon February 2010. The full slab is served with a full basket of fries and a large side of coleslaw. If you not one to ogle over the Beer selection or gossip with the Barkeep, you can easily entertain yourself with the ever popular Pool table or Darts. The lighting is dimmed for the typical South Side atmosphere and the prices are average for the city and on the lower end for Carson street. The waitstaff is efficient and friendly and the entirety of the experience is satisfyingly homestyle. Bravo and keep it up. read more

Pros: Great beer selection, good food Cons: Terrible waitress experience, bait and switch drink specials I have been here about 10 times over the last couple of years. I never had a problem before, until last night. They usually have some sort of special every day on their large beer selection, which is awesome. I checked barsmart and they were supposed to have $2.00 domestic drafts from 7pm -12 on Friday. I know that website is not always up to date so I checked the bar's website which said that they would have $2.50 domestic bottles--no problem, still a deal. When we arrived their was a chalkboard sign advertising $2.75 Labatt drafts for the Pens game and on the menu and on another chalkboard sign advertising 1.00 off Sam Adams pints from 7-12. The waitress informed us that not only did they not have the Labatts because they were out, that they had no other specials. I asked about the website specials and she replied, "I don't know who does our website." I asked about the Sam Adams special and she said "that was only until 7" We tried to show her the 6 ft chalkboard sign that was 3 ft away and the menu and her response was "I guess I can give it to you since you said you saw it"---as if we made it up! She was extra surly and barely accommodating. There were 3 of us and we ordered food, so our bill was over $60. I don't mind paying full price, I just didn't like the bait and switch and the attitude. read more

Drunk friends got you down? Leave TIki and come here for a Calm shot of Patron. read more

Absolutely the best Friday happy hour in Pittsburgh. Half off appetizers from 5-10, $1 off drafts from 5-7 and then $2.50 domestic bottles (though not all) from 7-10, and they have an incredible beer selection--something like 60 beers on tap another 100-something bottled. There were 6 of us grad students who went out, 2 beers each and enough food to warrant calling it a meal, and somehow with tax and tip it was $60. For SIX people. What up, Pittsburgh. The food was pretty good for bar food--bruschetta was a bit odd (maybe it was the bacon) but the mac & cheese bites, prov sticks, and hot peppers were great, and fries, zucchini planks, and potato skins were all quite good too. The bar area is pretty long but they have tables with servers as well, and various games (pool, darts) around for your entertainment. At 5:30 it was not very crowded but around 8 tables started becoming more scarce. read more

Great selection of beer. Appetizer deals and less parking difficulty were worth coming in earlier than the crowd. Our waitress was less helpful than desired. They should really just keep a chalkboard of the drafts on tap and erase them when no longer available instead of having the staff come back to the table like 8 times to tell us they were out. She also screwed up our bills. Burger was good at the moment, but a few hours later I felt like ass. And, no, it wasn't because I was drinking- I didn't even get to have more than one. Which, by the way, was a skunky Bell's Oberon. I'm always curious when going to places with an extensive draft list how long the keg has actually been tapped.... I'll probably give it another try sometime. read more

With the least amount of pretension allowed by craft beer bar law, this place ranks high on my list of great beer bar destinations. With over 60 drafts, and 350 bottles their selection covers some impressive ground. The back bar couldn't be any simpler. Its a full length row of glass door coolers, exactly what you would expect to see along the back wall at a 7-Eleven convenience store. (a wild fantasy 7-Eleven, but a 7-Eleven nonetheless). These coolers are propped up a bit higher and leave the people sitting at the bar a good view of the beers offered. The service was great - from both of the bartenders working the bar. It was a very busy afternoon when I was there, and they made it look easy. Great mix of very friendly locals and tourists. To say that I have had a few beers in my life would be a tiny bit of an understatement. I love to try new beers, or at least beers I have never had. At Smokin' Joe's I had Moylan's Nitro Special Bitter, Anchor Brewing's Humming Ale, Ballast Point Brewing's Reef Rye Brown Ale, and Elysian Brewing Company's The Immortal IPA. I was impressed with all 4 of them, and oddly enough, most impressed with the Humming Ale. Awesome selection. Looking for a bit of a snack to go along with the beers, I ordered the pierogies and added the kielbasa option. I saw them served to someone else across the bar and had to get them. Unfortunately they were hard to find on the menu. For some reason they are way in the back, almost listed as an afterthough. They shouldn't be. They were prepared just as I had hoped. Topped with a bunch of quick high heat pan fried in butter white onions, leaving some teeth to them, but also giving some of that sweet caramelized flavor. There is a large flatscreen TV on the wall that separates the front and back of the room. The screen changes showing you their list out the most recent tapped beers, the list of IPA's only, and a few others. Great idea. I'll be back. read more

Smokin' Joes is one of those places...where they have tons of different beers on tap, where the food is yummy, where the jukebox selection always includes what you want (Mr. Roboto? You bet!)...and where everybody knows your name. This is the kind of place where the older South Side locals go 3-4 nights a week and have been for years. Pop in on any random night and most likely they'll be sitting at the bar. (Ask for Finn and tell him Kim sent you!) It's also a home to young professionals and the college crowd, and overall the vibe is very chill and casual. The staff are super friendly and always willing to suggest a brew if you're overwhelmed about the hundreds, yes hundreds, of drafts available. They have many hard-to-find selections and will give you a taste if you ask, definitely a beer-lovers dream. Great wing selection as well and you can't beat the 35 cent wing specials during the week. Try the seasoned salt, the perfect complement to a nice cold beer. The pizza may take a little while to make but it's worth the wait. There's also a $2.50 vodka anything special on Saturdays. And if it gets a little too crowded for your liking on the weekend, just head upstairs to a secret bar where there's plenty of seating. Definitely a must go if you've never been there and are looking for a great neighborhood bar! read more

I always used to stop here for a quick drink, but never decided to order food. I did so about a month ago and couldn't believe what I was missing out on. Since then, I've had the opportunity to try their excellent wings (with plenty of sauces/rubs to choose from), mouth watering flatbreads, great appetizers, and juicy burgers. The "southsider" flatbread is one of my favorites. They also have 60+ beers on tap that will compliment any meal you order. I've only had bad service once since I've been going here, but can say everyone is usually friendly and knowledgeable. If you can't decide on a place to go, you can always rely on smokin joe. read more

Five Stars for Great Beer Selection!!! Doesn't look like much from the outside, but if you love beer, this will be your new home. Not only do they likely have Every Single Beer You Know, they have about a million other kinds too. If you like beer, and if you like adventure, you will love this place. The people are cool, but I found that it was far more fun to go with a huge group of friends and take over the place. And then meet people. read more

This place is one of my favorite bars on the South Side... and this is coming from an Eagles/Flyers fan. The service is excellent and I never had trouble getting a drink. The wings are phenomenal and I highly recommend ordering them even if you're not terribly hungry. They run really good specials and they have pool and darts. Smokin Joes is basically a fun place to hang out for the night with a large group of friends. read more

After bad service at Primanti Bros, we came here because nothing else was really open on a Tuesday night. This place was more welcoming, had good drink specials and the food was pretty good. read more

I like the whole "upstairs/downstairs" thing the 'burgh bars have going on. Downstairs was nuts - nearly impossible to move. Upstairs was much better. Decent beer selection. Fun times were had by all. read more

We came in to try a hard to find beer that Smokin Joe's happened to have on tap. We thought we would have some thirty cent boneless wings. Well we ordered the beer but instead of wings we ordered Blackened Chicken Nachos and Mac n Cheese (which they are known for. The beer-Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout-was well worth the trip and the $13 a glass price. The nachos were huge and the blackened chicken have them a nice flavor. I wasn't a fan of their salsa, but I would order them again. The server suggested some bacon on too of the Mac n Cheese. It was a huge plate of cheesy goodness. I barely ate a third of it. The bacon was a great addition but a couple of the pieces were really hard. I chewed each bit carefully but there were only two really hard pieces that were tiny. The rest of the bacon was fine. They have four more beers on tap that I would like to come back to try as well as their Lobster Queso (which they are also known for). This is definitely a bar with high top tables and bar stools, but the service is great. read more

Smokin' Joe's - Mac n Cheese with Bacon - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I really like this place and it has a great beer selection but service is way too slow.

(non)smoking Joe's. Great beer selection, good menu, friendly staff, great specials. You really cannot go wrong here read more

Honestly, this place isn't that bad! We went on a Friday evening after dinner for a drink. I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it was! They have a large selection of beer and I felt the staff helped us choose a beer we would like. I saw a few food items pass us, and they looked simple but fresh. I was told that this place can get busy, which I believe because they had a lot of staff working. I mean initially the staff to guest ratio was 3:1. By the time we left the bar was full. Not packed but busy. I look forward to going back here! read more

A good place to go during the week for a good beer and some bar food. Smokin' Joe's has an excellent draft list and for fair prices. The staff are friendly and polite and the place is just a little "divy". The food isn't really worth it though. The wings are 40cents a piece twice a week, but the wings are soggy and the sauces are bland. I'd stick with beer you will be impressed. read more

I love beer. 3 stars for that. It is a bar after all. As one of the first places I visited when I moved to Pittsburgh I remember coming out of the bathroom and seeing a family of four with two young kids in the bar and nearly passing out. What is the deal in PA with being able to bring your kid to the bar. Now I have a kid and we regularly make it out for a pint. read more

Massive beer selection. Chill but attentive bar staff. The hot wings were also good. I had a great experience here and would be back if I ever came to PA again. read more

Smokin' Joe's - Bar - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

As a cider drinker, I love it when I find a bar with cider on tap. Lots of beer choices and 2 ciders on tap. Also lots of choices in bottles. Bartender was friendly and helpful. Mid day was quiet and comfy. read more

I'm new to Yelp, but this is one place I will review. East Carson Street is over-flowing with bars and restaurants. However, there is one place many seem to miss, and it's quite the hidden gem. If you like great beer, great bar food, friendly/cute/knowledgable cocktail waitress, and bartenders who know their drinks, Smoking Joe's is the place for you. Commonly mistaken for a dive-bar, "The Joe" is a staple of the South Side for beer-lovers. I've been going there since I was underage, but this is one of the few places I will go back to. Has a very neighborhood/town-bar feel to it. The beer selection is incredible; they always have 65 beers on tap from all-around the world, including seasonal selections abound for those with adventurous taste-buds, in addition to over 300 or more on bottle. The food is above-average and inexpensive. Their wings are the best in the Southside, and maybe the city. Tuesday and Wednesday nights are designated "Wing Nights", 30 cents each from 7 to 12, and Thursday night is "Yuengs and Wings Night", 40 wings and a pitcher of Yuengling for 12.95. Aside from the wings, the Burgers are good, and one of the better Steak Salads I've had. Everything is under 12 bucks. The service is exceptional. Tommy and Llama run the bar, and they know their stuff. Just don't ask Tommy how he feels about Big Ben or the Steelers. The cocktail waitresses are cute, funny, attentive, and know their beers. In terms of entertainment, there are plenty of HD-TV's around always playing whatever sporting events are taking place, and they will always allow you to change the channel to watch a different game if need be. They don't run a tight ship here, fairly laid-back. There is a Golden Tee machine, as well as a dart board, and a touch-screen Jukebox. The crowd: Literally an eclectic mix of young professionals, thirty-somethings, folks from the neighborhood, and can become "College-y" on weekends. A self-proclaimed "Penguins" bar, this place always seems to fill up on game-nights. Like others said, weekends are hectic, but here's a secret; they have an upstairs called "The Distillery". The Distillery is just a name for the upstairs bar. A smaller room littered with beer-paraphenilla, the upstairs has a smaller tap selection and a smaller bottled selection, but if not busy, the bartenders will go downstairs and get the beer of your choice. The bonus of the upstairs is the drop-down projection screen, great for hockey games or football games. This upstairs is only open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. There are specials every night of the week, but you don't need an excuse to come by the Joe, get some wings, and have a beer you've never tried before. Just tell the boys what kinda beer you like, and they will point you in the right direction. Tell them John sent you in. read more

It's like home, but with a better beer selection. Thanks Smokin' Joe's. read more

For beer lovers and Casual drinkers alike Don't pass this one up read more

Everyone is extremely rude. If I could rate 0 stars I would. Would never come back again! Don't waste your money or time.

On a recent weekend trip to PGH, stopped in here for a beer before last call. Beer selection is, of course, amazing: 60+ taps and 300+ beers = you can't go wrong. Did not have food, as it was right before last call. Barkeeps were nice enough, knowledgeably chatting us up about Boston sports (where I'm from). Will definitely be back on a future trip to sample more of their extensive beer list. read more

This is my go-to spot for quick bites on Carson. I live close by and the wait-staff is friendly, professional and accommodating to special requests. The food is excellent and plentiful! read more

came in (f21) with my friend (f20) and was basically soft kicked out, no one to take our order and everytime I talked to an employee I was reminded of how I need to have my friend leave by 7:30 pm and he refused to serve me a drink when asked because my friend was with me read more

My favorite bar in South Side. Excellent selection of beer and knowledgable staff. read more

Smokin' Joe's - Arrogant Bastard Ale is my favorite! - Bars Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Did a wing tour while visiting Pittsburgh and our winner (by a lot) was Smokin' Joe's. Great vibe and tasty ass wings. The guy who served us recommended hot garlic and they were our favorite. Send my regards to the chef. read more

o.k. place to stop in for a quick one.....large selection of beers but not the best and friendly service..... the barmaid .just came up to me and with out even saying hello asked me if i wanted to know whats on tap and just handed me a sheet of paper with the beer selection and walked away.....hummmm....the barmaid was maybe overwhelmed .....I had one and left....I was going to eat but again she wasn't very observant ..... I have been in the business for years and i would have been working that bar to the end of closing.....(if you want to make tips!!! ) but I would def. come back and give it a second try next time I come into town in the next few weeks ......the bar looks cool inside and def. had a friendly crowed read more

Stopped by Smokin' Joe's a couple times for a drink and a bite to eat. It gets pretty crowded, at least it was when I was there for a Penguins game and for trivia/30 cent wings. They have a good selection of drinks and a good kitchen menu. I've tried the mac n cheese and boneless mild parm, Cajun, and sweet Italian wings. All were very tasty and seemed freshly made. The service is friendly and attentive and it's a great spot for a bite and a drink. I'll definitely be back. read more

The South Side is packed with bars that might cause someone like myself with social anxiety to have a bit of a panic attack. Smokin Joe's though, is not one of those bars. If the packed crowds of South Side aren't your fancy, Joe's has solid food with a great beer and liquor selection. The service is fast, and excellent. A pool table, dart boards, and dozens of TVs as well make it a great hangout spot for anyone looking to start, or end their night away from the crowds in the South Side. read more

This bar does what it sets out to do. They have an excellent beer selection and have some pretty on the ball bartenders. Like any bar in South Side, when it's crowded, the experience can be pretty miserable. It's a high end beer joint infiltrated by douches who don't care what they're drinking. I wish those guys would just drive down to Jack's and drink some swill. If the downstairs is crowded, it might be worth it to go upstairs. Bartender is equally as friendly and it's a smaller space, which can be good or bad. I do repeat, why do people go to this bar just to drink a Bud. It's like going to the Four Seasons and ordering a fucking hot dog. read more

Arthichoke Dip. That is all I have to say about Smokin' Joe's. Kidding, but the Starter is my favorite item on the food menu. The Rib Wrap is pretty freakin' good as well! Smokin' Joe's has typical bar food, with many items that have a "Pittsburgh twist"! It is a smaller bar, but is a great place to meet up with friends to catch the Steelers game or play a few rounds of pool with. read more

This is one of the bars that makes the Carson Street experience enjoyable. Although less so than The Library, Smokin' Joe's is one of those places that has multiple personalities depending on the time of day. On weekdays and up until around 10pm on weekends, the place has regulars, you can use the pool table or play darts without too much trouble, and it's a great place to catch a Pens game. Late night on weekends, the downstairs gets packed with one too many girls sipping on Washington Apple shots for my taste...But it's certainly still fun. Unfortunately, unless there's a game on, the upstairs is always, well, boring, and the excellent beer selection does not extend to up there. I wish they could do something to make better use of the upstairs space. Don't expect the bartenders to know how to make any sort of specialty cocktail unless there's beer involved. I'm obsessed with the Haystack: half Hoegaarden, half Framboise. One thing that's a little backwards about Smokin' Joe's is the abundance of Miller Lite specials. You are a beer bar with a huge selection on tap and hundreds of bottled beers: Why all the specials on crappy beer? read more

I know a lot of people who are regulars here, so I decided to visit for the first time today. My friends and I ended up leaving without getting food after an hour and a half of trying to get the waitress's attention. I asked the waitress if I could put an order in for food, she said she would be right back, then she never returned. It was crowded when we got there so we expected to wait for service, but by the time we left there were only a few tables occupied. It is clear that we were intentionally denied service as the waitress avoided eye contact at all costs. The food menu looked great and reasonably priced but I'll never go back. read more