YEAH! LOVE this place! Yummy BBQ glory! I have gotten take out from this place as well as dined here and both experiences were fabulous. When I dined here, which was about a handful of times, the service was great and they had live music! I especially enjoy their jalapeño cheddar corn bread, their sweet potatoes, their marinated chicken sandwich and their coleslaw. They have awesome fries and apps too. There is something here for everyone....they do not disappoint!!! Do yourself a favor and check it out!!! read more

Smokin' With Chris - Barbeque Near Me - Southington, Connecticut

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We are regulars at Smokin with Chris, preferring to sit in the bar area. Lately the vibe has been extra friendly and relaxing. My husband has a beer he always enjoys and with the new chef, the flavors of the food and consistency of the quality is up a notch! The flavors are rich (I had chili tonight) and well done. It's a fairly small spot and we love it!! read more

Casual, fast service, always good. Great for take out or eating in. Bar has some high top tables. Everything on the menu is great. I've always eaten the pulled pork, with the delicious jalapeño cornbread. My gym is nearby and just running by the outside of the building gets my mouth watering. You can smell the smoker from the walking trail. read more

The proliferation of excellent barbecue food in Connecticut continues to spread from corner to corner of the state. And Smokin' With Chris is yet another winner on that list. Yes, they have all the regular staples here and they are very well done. But a couple of things stood out as unique and extremely good on my first visit here. Steak & Tators from the appetizer list is a must try. It is three skewers of a teriyaki marinated steak tip and a fried mashed potato ball stuffed with bacon and blue cheese served on top of a river of house made blue cheese. This was definitely one of the best appetizers I've ever had and highly appropriate for a barbecue spot. I tried the smoked prime rib dinner for my entree and after having this I think I'll never look at prime rib au jus the same way again. Smoking prime rib to rare and then grilling it to order, in this case medium rare, makes the meat taste so much better. You get the benefit of a juicy cut of meat with some charring and searing on the outside that gives it a really nice crust. In essence it becomes a rib eye steak which, in my opinion, is the most flavorful cut of meat. To make this dish even better it is topped with more of that excellent house made blue cheese and salsa for some color and extra flavor. My wife ordered the beef brisket sandwich without the bread and they will serve this as a platter so they are very accommodating. The service overall was top notch. They explained what each of the sauces were when asked and seemed very knowledgeable about the menu. The brisket itself was well smoked, tender and lightly sauced but I don't really prefer brisket to be pulled as they serve it here. I like it sliced, but no worries. It was really good. Dinners and sandwiches are served with choice of two sides and I chose the house made baked mac & cheese and breaded & fried Spanish onion rings. The mac was some of the best I've had at a barbecue spot and the rings were perfectly made. It is easy to see this as the breading starts to fall off when you grip it and dip it. To me, that is how breaded onion rings should look and taste. For your dipping sauce you can choose from Chris' three barbecue sauces: a vinegar based Carolina Kicker, JR's (a KC-style brown sauce) and Chris', a tomato like (Texas) red sauce. All were very good but JRs was my favorite because I like KC style sauces the best. I will definitely be back to try their ribs, baked beans and wings and I can't wait. read more

Gotta love a restaurant where the main cooking devices are essentially sitting in the parking lot. "Aw, crap, can't park there, there's a giant smoker in the way!" Off the Southington beaten path lies a really nice, unassuming, friendly neighborhood joint. They've been in business but a few years, still, it feels like the kind of place that's been around since you're grandpappy was in diapers. Food is real good, whether it be an actual Barbecue dish or not. Service is excellent too. Usually barbecue joints hang their hats on the fact that the food is so damn good, rendering decent customer service as an optional feature. Definitely not the case here. Bartenders tell you about all the beers, servers tell you about all the delicious food. One of my favorites is actually an appetizer. The steak and taters... enough to make a small meal for one, actually. Three big fried mashed potato balls filled with cheese and bacon, topped with steak tips and skewered. Yum. I dunno if I'd 100% call it a barbecue restaurant, but I'd call it a darn good smokehouse with a darn good dining experience. read more

Robert D. Went here for the first time and ordered the "Meat Lovers Platter". Absolutely wonderful! Great ribs, pulled pork and brisket - not to mention the world class sides and barbecue sauces! The beer selection knocked me out as well. Will definitely return! Try this place, you won't be disappointed! read more

Just got home from my Father's Day meal at this BBQ restaurant. Started off with a blueberry lemonade, excellent on a humid day. We ordered wings for an appetizer and they were plentiful, full of meat, just the right amount of buffalo sauce and a very tasty blue cheese dip. For a meal I had the prime rib, which is one of the best pieces of meat that I had in a long time! It came with salsa and sour cream on top which was delicious. My two sides were onion rings, just enough and not overwhelming, and mac and cheese which was very filling. My wife had baby back ribs which she said were a little dry, but very good. My son-in-law also got the ribs and didn't have any to take home. My daughter inhaled her chili and said it was very good as well. Just as we finished, it stated to rain, so we just paid the tab and left without any dessert. I will be back even though it is 40 minutes from Danbury. read more

What an amazing BBQ place! They just added burnt ends and were sold out by 2 pm. Perfect place to stop while biking!

Hands down my favorite restaurant in Southington. Warm, friendly atmosphere. Authentic and tasty BBQ. Friendly bartenders and wait staff. What more can you ask for?? On top of the delicious food (which I've personally tried every dish multiple times each) they have a variety of interesting beers on tap. I've never had better BBQ, even down south. Win! read more

Wonderful, friendly environment, amazing staff, some of the best truly fresh made food you will ever have! I have been going here for years and have been happily bringing newbies and referring friends to them ever since my first visit. The owners are often on hand to ask you how your experience was and the entire staff will make you feel right at home. They create the type of atmosphere where you end up talking to complete strangers every visit! Live music several nights a week just add to the atmosphere and the draw. Oh, and one of the best patio's in CT! read more

Smokin' With Chris - Barbeque Near Me - Southington, Connecticut

Smokin with Chris has long been one of our favorite local restaurants in town. Great live music plus great consistent food plus a great tap list means that we are never disappointed here. We recently hired Smokin with Chris to cater for a birthday party for my wife, and once again we were very impressed. The restaurant was very easy to communicate with, the delivery people were very efficient and pleasant, and most importantly the food was great, just as good as if it were served right at the restaurant. I would highly recommend them- if you haven't checked them out yet, give them a try! read more

Smokin' With Chris is an All-American Barbecue restaurant that has been around for quite some time. Unfortunately for me, the whole visit started off wrong. My friend and I walked into someone's apartment by accident when trying to find one of the few entrances inside lol (it was awkward). After that whole fiasco, we entered through the bar area and that was even more awkward and uncomfortable because we clearly looked out of place. Once we finally made it to the main seating area we were greeted by a super sweet waitress who took our orders. I ordered the BBQ Chicken Sandwich which comes with the option of two sides - so I went with Mac and Cheese and fries. The food didn't take long to come out which was nice. My burger was juicy, but idk how I ordered that since I don't like grilled veggies (came on the grilled chicken breast). Nonetheless, I thought the burger was good. Overall though, the food was average - the fries weren't anything amazing and same with the Mac and Cheese. My friends had ordered all kinds of food and also agreed that the food was relatively average. This isn't a place I see myself coming back to personally - but I think if you're a fan of BBQ it's worth a shot. The prices were fair and the vibe was nice and comfortable. It's definitely family friendly (if you enter through the right door lol) and they even have a live music/bands on certain nights. read more

Smokin' With Chris - Mac and Cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Southington, Connecticut

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As usual, I sat at the bar. Full disclosure, I didn't eat here. But the bartenders were all great. Ample samples (hah!), quick to chat up the business, and engaging in conversation with folks at the bar. Very understandable why people would stop by for a post-work beer. I definitely want to come back for dinner or at least apps. They even put the soccer match on for me. A losing match. Update: A draw! Anyway, the regulars seemed exceedingly happy. They also apparently cater BBQ for large parties and events, which someone ordered while I was there. The bartender who took the order didn't even bat an eye at taking an order for fixin's for 30+ people, although I would suggest giving them a few days notice. I left just as the dinner rush began, and everyone in the mostly-full dining car seemed to be enjoying apps and drinks. Definitely a place to go if you live in the area. They don't stay open late, but worth a try for dinner and drinks. 4/5 for friendly service, well-stocked bar, good brews on draft, although maybe a few more tap lines would add to the variety. Will return next time for the food! read more

This is a review of dinner, Thursday night August 21, 2014. When we arrived, around 6:30 they easily sat our party of 6. A solo amplified acoustic guitar player sang and played southern style music. Later in the night, they got busier, with most of the guests out on the patio. Our server, Donny, was friendly, warm, and fun, and had a great handle on the menu. Ribs were full of smoke flavor. Neither the babybacks nor spare ribs were "fall off the bone" style another reviewer wrote about. They were just the right texture, a bit of grab needed. These were the highlight of our table. Pulled pork seemed steamed instead of smoked. Brisket was chopped and seemed fatty, and without much flavor. Mac & cheese was baked, with some nice added spice. Too spicy for my three year old, so we ordered him cheese quesadillas which came with kids mac & cheese. To summarize, great service, smokey ribs, bland pulled pork and brisket. read more

I've been to Smokin' with Chris a number of times and never had a bad experience. Service is good, food is really good--just a reliable place to go, lunch or dinner. The hamburgers are delicious and portions are generous. The barbecue, their specialty, is great, though I'm not a barbecue connoisseur. Just smelling the aroma of the smoker in back makes my mouth water. read more

Great BBQ. I tried the burnt ends sampler platter. Can't go wrong. Good sauces, and the sides are delicious too.

Smokin' with Chris is like a little hidden gem. I mean, it's always busy but maybe it's just that they make everyone feel like a regular that it never feels crowded. Over the years, we've had almost everything on the menu. You can't go wrong with any of them, even the burger is worth repeating and it's not even "bbq". My absolute favorite is the jalapeño corn bread. I don't even want to write that bc they already occasionally run out of it! The bartenders and staff are attentive and friendly. The drinks and craft beer list are pretty solid, and they have great wine options at reasonable prices. They also have regular live music and a cute patio that is right on the bike path which makes for excellent people watching! read more

Been twice so far and cant wait to go back. Warm, welcoming place with a friendly vibe and great beers on tap. But smokin with chris is all about the bbq. I can do a more proper review the next time i go back but I will say this....I am not a big fan of meatloaf. But Chris's smoked meatloaf with bacon and smoked gouda is one of the most delicious meals I have had in a long time. And with 2 sides for 16 bucks there is no better deal around. We will certainly be headed back soon. Smokin with Chris has become a part of our regular rotation, and all we want to do is introduce friends and family to the best BBQ in Ct. read more

This place is a gem. The baby back ribs are awesome. I prefer a dry rub and they did not disappoint. The meat was moist and the rub was perfect. Lots of flavor and not a mess. The mac and cheese side was amazing. Creamy with nice crunch and a hint of black pepper. The best side was the Lincoln Sweet Potatoes. OMG what flavor. Sweet Potatoes reduced with orange juice, brown sugar, and molasses and finished off with apples & cinnamon. Well worth the trip. Prices are reasonable and the portions are generous. You will love this place. read more

Okay after much anticipation we finally went to Smokin with Chris overall it was very good. We went on a Thursday night around 6ish and it was not packed and we did not wait at all for a table, we were given a choice of the bar, the patio, or the dining room we chose the dining room. There was a one man Blues performer (the name escapes me) and he added nice atmosphere. The service was outstanding (5 stars) I think her name was Michelle and she could have not been more helpful, she was very very knowledgeable of the menu and was able to make suggestions. They have a nice beer selection, I had the Bluepoint brewing's White IPA and i felt the beer could have been colder, the wife had some kind of wine based drink (kind of like a Sangria). The food: We chose the "steak and tater" appetizer, which was a piece of teriyaki marinated tri-tip beef atop a mini potato "puck" (smaller version of the potato puck from the app menu, you get three to this order) which is potato folded with bacon, blu cheese, panko bread crumbs and deep fried this app was outstanding. I chose the rib combo which is a half rack of baby back ribs which come sauced and a half rack or spareribs which come dry rubbed they also serve it with two sauces on the side, for my two sides I chose corn bread and beans. The ribs: the baby backs were awesome, the spareribs seemed a bit dry. The sides: the cornbread was so so in my opinion, the beans were great. My wife chose the smoked meatloaf, which was stuffed with ham and gouda cheese and served sauced and that was very tasty, her sides were sweet potato's and cucumber salad. The portions are large, we left FULL and I will definitely be back, as far as value I though it was decent the check was 76 bucks for an app, two entrees (again portions are large) and two alcoholic drinks each. read more

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This BBQ was great! Homemade sauces too. Love the live music while I eat. My friends and family are always impressed when I bring them there for their first time and then request going back again! read more

Smokin' With Chris - Pulled pork sandwich with mac n' cheese and cornbread. So good! - Barbeque Near Me - Southington, Connecticut

Only been once, so will add to this review. Ambiance and service are the things thus far, and the menu has promise. Its a bar, old school tavern type place. The owner's son is a character and goofball, in a wonderful way. Great beer selection; not wide, but deep. Had the rib combo platter w/ baby back and the spare ribs. Former are a rub, latter are cooked w/ sauce. There is a sauce for the baby back, and its recommended. We were the first custies of the day, and I got the end, which was mostly kinda dry, but the flavor rates enough for me to come back and try again. Mac and cheese was spot on; several cheeses and panko. Beans, one of three places I've tried where the beans rate. Companion got the pulled pork and was very happy. Check out the menu on line before ya go; this is NOT just a Q place. They had steakie au poivre, salmon in a mustard glaze, tons of other things that reeked of being well-thought-out. Next time am suckling off the company teat will get either of them to see if the execution stands up to the promise. This is they type of place I'd go for beers and cocktails. Music was a quirky mix of off-beat 70s rock; not the top hits of the bands we know and love, but the other great songs off those albums. Cred: I've gone to Norf Caolina, TX, Austin, and Hill Country for Q; plus, seeked it down in every city in which I've lived. Memphis and St Louis are on the itinerary. read more

After embarking on a prowl to eat somewhere- anywhere- new, i found myself at smokin' with chris. A few streets removed from the main drag in southington, you either need to know where you're going, or get lost in order to find this place. I wasn't quite lost, but probably only because i didn't quite have a destination. I have to admit that the Italian flag outside did confuse me. After driving past 3 times, i decided its purpose was to indicate neighborhood history, not the restaurant itself. So i venture in, and am immediately greeted like i don't belong 'hi- how can i help you?' Well. You work in a bar/restaurant; how do you think you can help me? I probably want to eat and drink. Why is a single woman in a bar such an anomaly?! All in all, i didn't love my service. Nothing was wrong, but the couple next to me (who were obviously repeat customers) received much more love than i. The food was good, though not exceptional. I started with a cup of bacon, white cheddar, baked potato bisque. With a great smokey flavor and tons of (real) bacon bits, this was some seriously worth-it indulgence. After that i had wanted their burnt ends, but, at 2pm on a Sunday, they were out. I thought it odd (so early in the day? They weren't busy...)and was disappointed, but got ribs instead. Ribs were perfectly smoked and singed... just enough. The burn was flavor, not just burn. House-made BBQ sauce was also the perfect balance of sweet, smoke, and spice. I loved it. Sides of slaw and collards left something to be desired. The slaw, while fresh and crisp, clearly needed more seasoning and interest. The collards were buttery and not cooked to death, but needed some acid, as well as a touch of heat. I so want to love this place, but think the service needs more focus, as well as a bit more attention to the food. read more

I had a fantastic meal here. Ordered the country fried chicken with sweet potatoes and collard greens. All were sensational and uniquely flavored. I also tried a sweet barbecue sauce with an orange flavor that was distinctive and really yummy. The Yelp-favorite Steak and Taters were also excellent. Beer selections were great, including two stouts poured with Nitro (my pick). On the downside the two people at our table that ordered the burnt ends were super disappointed. They were tough, leathery with little meat and they said they felt like they were chewing on nothing but cartilage. The other thing that threw me off was side dishes were served on the plate on red and white checkered paper containers, which gave a takeout flair to a sitdown restaurant. Overall there was much more positive than negative and I would go back to retry the barbecue. read more

Had lunch there today at a friends suggestion. First the good. Service was good,thanks Samantha. It was a nice day to sit outside and the patio was nice. However for the bad, my brisket was dry..tasted like leftovers from the day before. No cucumber salad and the sauce was so so. Might give it another shot when I'm in the neighborhood but not in a rush. You Yankees just can't git r done. read more

Awesome spot. All 4 of our meals were amazing. More than enough food and the waiter and manager checked on us multiple times throughout our meal to see if we were enjoying it. Great spot for lunch or dinner or if you're looking for a spot to eat after a day of skiing! read more

Stopped here on a road trip from Vermont to NYC and were really pleased with our meal. The ambiance was relaxed and welcoming - they had bar, dining room, and patio seating available. We sat in the dining room, where they had a live music playing for the night. My boyfriend got the pulled pork sandwich, which he said was amazing. The only thing he didn't quite like was the roll it came on. I got the penne vodka, and the portion size was enough for three people. I also really enjoyed the variety of sides they offered - their take on Mac and cheese was delicious (but definitely has some spice to it). The sweet potatoes were also good - they were really like dessert :) The staff was very nice and the food was awesome, so I would definitely recommend giving this place a try! read more

Smokin With Chris is a pretty cool place - a smoke house bbq joint in a really old building, a smidge off the beaten path, run by a very friendly husband and wife team. For the most part I really only come here to relax with a few beers and possibly an appetizer...and occasionally to have dinner. As far as the bar goes, Chris always has some interesting beers on tap which makes me happy. The food on the other hand usually sounds a lot better when read off the menu then in your mouth. I'm not sure why but nearly every smoked item I've ever had here is way overcooked...to the point where it is completely dried out. I'm also not a huge fan of their bbq sauces, I prefer a spicier sauce, but their sauces aren't terrible. On a bright note, they do make an excellent homemade salsa and a nice mac & cheese, both of which I recommend. As far as prices go they are a bit on the high side but nothing exorbitant. read more

What a GREAT place! My daughter and her husband just went there for his birthday. Her husband said it's his new favorite place. My daughter said their waitress, Chelsea was excellent. Food, service - great night out for the two of them. I called to have a gift certificate for them and Justin, the manager could not have been nicer or more accommodating. I can't wait to try it when I am down there. read more

I have been here twice. The first time is was great. The menu is mostly BBQ but has some things for people who do not like it- salads, pasta, fish etc. Chris makes all of his own sauces, so the food is to die for. They have live blues bands on weekends, and also have great specials. I love their baby back ribs, and my fiance likes their steak, and spare ribs. The only bad thing to say is they never have a large selection of sides, which is disappointing when someone doesn't like a certain thing. The bar has unique beers, you won't find the typical selection. All in all I would recommend this to anyone looking for a casual place to hang out with friends and get good BBQ. The sauces are excellent and the service is great. read more

The best barbeque I have ever had! Just as good as the barbeque found in the south if not better! Their service is also excellent. Family run business. Can't go wrong with Baby Back Ribs, Mac n Cheese & Cornbread. read more

The best barbecue I've had in Connecticut hands down. Super friendly service and Chris came by the table twice to check on us. Cool kitschy spot without being cluttered or dirty looking and with comfy seating, we chose a booth. Baby Back Ribs with Dry Rub and Honey Mustard were very good and cooked just right. Spare Ribs were a little dry. The large end was a little better, but not as moist and succulent as I would like. I had it with the JR sauce instead of the Southwest Orange-Ginger sauce, none of that fancy shizz for me! JR sauce was solid, I just wish they had it in hot. Both could have had a little or a lot more smoke for my liking. Side were really good too. Collards had a little heat to them which we liked. I like it cooked just a bit more, but still very good. Housemade fries, potato salad and an individual crock of mac'n'cheese with breadcrumb topping were top notch. Served with real brewed iced tea. We'll definitely be back. read more

Great food, beer and atmosphere with live music. The service was excellent. Forget the franchises and head here. read more

Smokin' With Chris - Brisket sandwich with fresh hand cut fries and Mac n' cheese. - Barbeque Near Me - Southington, Connecticut

My only criticism is the dessert menu has two items. But the potato puck was a delicious and good to share with two people. The Meat Lovers dinner was all I was hoping it would be along with the side of collard greens and jalapeño corn bread. The seasonal beer was a good touch. read more

I'm visiting from the San Fran area.. Stopped in to grab a quick bite. I was pleasantly surprised, the food was better than delicious and fresh. I only had chili, collard greens and jalapeño corn bread, but everybody else around was crazy about their food too. Check it out.. This post is coming from a picky eater.. Atmosphere has more of a rustic feeling, yet warm and inviting.. Thanks y'all. I'll be back... Go Solar!! read more

Amazing barbecue! Simple, unassuming environment, friendly service and delicious food... what a great combination! Their sauces are each unique and amazing, adding a fun twist that never gets boring. Their drinks are almost as good as their food, so make sure to enjoy the full experience! read more

Not worth your time if you're a meat lover. Ribs dry and not fall off the bone. Both kinds! Sides EXTREMELY boring. My kids make better food. Seeing and smelling the smoker outside, my expectations were high. I've eaten way to much bbq to ever recommend this place. read more

I don't know what everyone else is rating but when I rate, I start with the service, then the appearance, the food and then the price to taste ratio. To start, we were seated and weren't spoken to for 10 minutes. Yes, TEN MINUTES. and the only reason it was that long because WE stopped someone. The worse part of those ten minutes was that we didn't have water nor a menu to start looking at what we would like. I have a tip for the restaurant. The girl that set our table up: have also give us menu and some water. The atmosphere was very loud. So loud that I couldn't hear the beer selection. Yes, they don't have a beer menu. Good luck selecting a beer. The price to taste ratio, below avg. my total tab was 82 with tip. I had the Barnyard burger which I can NOT complain. The fries were avg and the coleslaw, not my cup of tea. So overall my meal would be a 3 out of 5. My wife's ribs weren't all that great. She rated it a 3 so these ratings that I saw, I was disappointed by what I've experienced. read more

Not bad! I stopped in with a buddy recently and we had the full rack of ribs with baked beans and cornbread. Ribs were flavorful and fall-off-the-bone tender, they were pretty good. They have a decent draft selection that is made up of mainly CT-local and New Engand beers. We got the green flash west coast ipa and two roads lil heaven ipa. I did however notice that they neither had pulled pork or brisket, which is odd for a BBQ place. Service was friendly and prompt. I noticed that they also have Happy Hour on Tues-Fri from 4-6pm: $4 craft beers and house wine, and half-off wings and $5 apps read more

My all time favorite in Southington, it seems as if its only getting better. Chris is doing a great Job with take-out as well. Highly recommend giving it a try. read more