The atmosphere was comfortable, staff friendly and the food was outstanding. If you want good bbq and good company, come to this gem. I'm glad we discovered it and we will certainly make it a regular stop. read more

Tried the pulled pork sandwich with Mac & cheese and fries as sides. Very delicious! Burnt ends were sold out due to a busy Friday night. Mac & cheese has a good kick. They offer our door patio seating with a good beer selection on tap. We will likely return if we are in the mood for BBQ and are near Southington. read more

Wonderful food! I had the 1/2 order appetizer burnt ends and wings (accidently ordered honey chipotle) way to warm for me, I couldn't even bite them it burnt, however my husband sampled one and said the flavor was good- just too much kick for me. The waitress was so gracious even at 8:45 to put in another order so I could enjoy eating some wings with some BBQ. My husband got the meat lovers, definitely worth upgrading to the baby backs. Very good. We were the last two on a Tuesday night, the food was fresh, and had friendly service. If we were ever CT again we def. would stop in again. read more

Amazing smoked BBQ. You won't find another place like this. Grab a seat outside, kick back and enjoy.

Very good food. Can't wait to go back. The meatloaf was awesome and the Sloppy Chris sandwich just as good.

Went to Smokin with Chris on Friday with my family and had a great experience. The potato puck was amazing and the buffalo wings were better than I had expected from a barbecue restaurant. I ordered the meatloaf which was delicious and the Mac N Cheese was the best I ever had. Look forward to going there again. I recommend to everyone read more

Went for dinner on a Friday night. Got sat by the door where it was extremely cold. The app of brisket was mostly fat. Expected more from a place with such good reviews. read more

Made me homesick for NC. Husband and I both had the pulled pork. I ditched the bread to focus on the tasty meat, slaw and sauce party that was happening on my plate. I opted for fries and corn bread. Would have liked the corn bread to be warm but was still tasty. Husband had Mac n cheese and baked beans. MnC was try but the beans were outstanding. Definitely going to visit again. They also had these cute table cards promoting the local humane society with info about pets available and envelopes for donations. Very nice thing to do. read more

I'm a big barbecue fan and since I live in the CT, I rarely get my fix of the stuff. I've been to so many restaurants around here that people swear by, only to realize that 99% of the people from the northeast have no idea what good barbecue tastes like. I went in fairly late on a Sunday night, so the place was pretty empty. The staff was very attentive, friendly, and had some good suggestions for the beers they had on tap. I'm pretty sure I didn't get a real view of the entire experience because it was so empty, but I was impressed nonetheless. On to the actual food. I'll be honest, I walked in expecting this place to be no better than any other CT BBQ place that survives only because their customers don't know any better. I was pleasantly surprised. I went for the pulled pork (because they didn't have burnt ends that night), which was cooked perfectly with a great sauce and fresh bread (which is way harder to find out of the local BBQ places than you'd think). For sides, I tried the collard greens and mac and cheese, which were both well above my expectations. 9/10 times in CT, collard greens are salted to the point that they're inedible. These weren't at all. There was just enough added to complement the flavor without completely covering it up. The mac and cheese was also fantastic and a much less rich dish than I expected. In 17 years in CT, I had only ever found one worthwhile BBQ place (Bobby Q's in Westport). Smokin' with Chris is right up there, if not a little better. I'll definitely be back. read more

This place is outstanding. I ordered there pulled pork and the mashed potato puck. The pulled pork was moist and was full of flavor. The mashed potato puck consist of creamy mashed potato filled with Gouda cheese and bacon then deep fried to perfection. Then a smear of garlic butter is place on top. So when you take a bite you get a nice crunch with the creamy mashed potatoes, the saltiness from the bacon and cheese, and the butter gives it a savory mouth watering taste. In conclusion this place is superb. read more

Probably the best baby back ribs I've ever had....quite impressive considering I've had barbecue all over the country. If I didn't live so far away, this place would be my go to for ribs! The sides were typical, I had the cucumber salad....very good and the coleslaw....just ok. I wish I got the onion rings after seeing them on my kids plate. Thank you Yelpers for accurately reviewing Smokin with Chris. If you're in the area, check them out. read more

This place rocks!!!! They always have their wood fired bbq smoker cranked up and it smell so damn good outside, you just HAVE to go in!! they have all of the traditional southern bbq favorites....and they are done right! The wait staff is very knowledgeable of the menu and is great for asking recommendations. The owner is also the cook. This is also a great place to come for drinks and to hang out. Definitely a fun atmosphere. read more

Simply outstanding BBQ. In my opinion, they have the Best Brisket in CT. Their corn bread is the best I have ever had.

Smoked brisket sandwich and the Mac and cheese were delicious! The staff and owner were great. Will return and try more delicious food!

When visiting ESPN, you MUST stop here for dinner. Dine outside, weather permitting. LEGIT barbeque. Big servings. Vermont beer! Love it. read more

I have been coming to this place since March 2014 and must say that it is one of the best barbecue restaurants in CT. The barbecue chicken, baby back ribs, chili, mac & cheese are my favorite dishes. The baked beans and cornbread are really good as well but the fries are overcooked. I have never had a bad meal here. read more

Stopped here on a tip from a friend. Pulling up you immediately see smoke, which is a great sign that you're walking into an actual BBQ restaurant. Staff was very friendly and our waiter was great, explained everything, gave suggestions, and recommended some beers for my friends. The pulled chicken nachos were a great starter for sharing. Had the burnt ends for an entree, which I thought was good until I tried my friends ribs. They were some of the most tender ribs I've had in CT. The BBQ sauces were all great, I like a good mix of sweet and heat, and wasn't disappointed. Mac and cheese was probably the best side and was made even better with just a touch of the virginia style BBQ sauce. I give it four stars now but I could see that increasing when we go back. So many things that I could see myself going back for. read more

We have been coming here for a long time. Never disappointed with the food or service! They have a rear patio if you're looking to sit outside. I recommend the steak and taters as an appetizer so amazing ! read more

Amazing BBQ. Great atmosphere. True southern smoked meat. If you're anywhere in the area, stop by!

Best BBQ in CT. Pulled pork was delicious and the Mac and cheese was a little spicy, best ever. Sit outside if you can the patio is lovely and you can see the smoker in action! read more

If you want solid, flavorful, delicious bbq, then you've found the place. Everything I've ever had from here is excellent. Get in your car, and go now! read more

My boyfriend and I attended smokin with Chris last night. Along with another couple. I ordered the meatloaf and he ordered the same but with ribs, the other couple ordered a pulled pork dish and some other thing. I thought the food was fabulous until I woke up in the middle of the night so sick. I messaged my friend and her boyfriend. They were up too. Throwing up and doing the other thing ( I am sure I don't need to explain it here). Turns out this morning after leaving the clinic we all have food poisoning. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

I had the best experience ever. I got food for about 80 people for my husband's Surprise 60th Birthday Party. My husband is a chef as is many of his friends. They know great food and Loved It!!! Everyone wanted to know where I got it and wanted to plan dates with us to go there. The staff were so friendly and helpful. It wasn't easy pulling off a Surprise Party at my own house for so many people without my husband's help. Smokin with Chris made it a Success. They Rock. read more

Great place to hang out with friends, eat a meal with the family, and eat amazing food! I recommend this place to all of my friends and I would come here so many times a week! I love this place and the food. read more

The burnt ends, buffalo wings, and brisket sandwich were satisfying. The mac 'n' cheese was nothing special. The bartender was friendly and a good server. The other staff and owner seem nice. I appreciate the homey feel of the place and bar area. The draft selection is concise and well-selected. They host live music Thursday-Sunday. read more

They catered our wedding and absolutely nailed it. Delicious food. The wieners and meatballs in sauce disappeared as appetizers. They brought a great selection of quality cheese, too. The main course of BBQ chicken, pulled pork, brisket, mac & cheese, cornbread, veggies and coleslaw was all amazing. Everyone at our wedding raved about the food all night. And to top it off, Chris himself showed up to serve food and was super nice and talkative. A+ all around. read more

Best ribs period anywhere in the area. Their dry rub is unlike anything I have eaten besides down south. Definitely worth trying

Awesome place. Good bbq, great beer, and great atmosphere. the service is great and its family owned so they definitely take pride in what they do and it shows. The wings are fabulous, so are the burnt ends....so is everything else I've tried here. Live music is usually very good but I prefer to sit in the bar area. Cool place to hang out and some of the best bbq I've had in CT. I know there's better bbq out there but with the service, atmosphere, beer, and food combined this place gets 5 stars. read more

Went for lunch today and it was outstanding. Pulled pork was moist and came with two sides. French fries were great. Cucumber salad was not bad. Also tried the beets and they were surprisingly tasty. Beer was cold and had a nice selection. Will definitely go back again. read more

Can I give 0 stars? Unreal, to have a smoker and throw meat in there does not make it bbq. So called baked Mac and cheese was rated just under a Kraft brand grocery store box brand. I'm sorry I meant generic brand because my son will eat Kraft with no issue. Although the meatloaf was tender, it tasted like my high school sweat sock after a week worth of gym class. The 1 star they do receive is for their so called "Award winning" chili(who's award). We sent back a full plate of food with minimal damage and did we get a manager come over to ask what was the issue? No, let's just say I rather get hit in the face by a 18 wheeler full of explosives driven by guy ferei then ever eat there again. read more

I had a recent party catered from Smokin' With Chris and it was a HUGE hit with my guests. The food was reasonably priced, packaged well, ready when they said it would be and absolutely delicious. I would highly recommend getting any event catered from here. read more

Fantastic!! I used to travel regularly to Kansas City for my previous job and I can say Smokin with Chris competes with the Midwest. Meats are prepared perfectly. Recommendation for your first time, get the Meat Lovers with Baby backs so you can have a taste of everything. The Steak and Taters app was to die for with a great pepper creamy dipping sauce. I honestly didn't even use any BBQ sauce on the meats as I felt it would be a disservice to their standalone flavors.! Will definitely be going back! read more

Coming from NYC where food is abundant Smokin with Chris is a must if in CT! Baby back ribs are succulent, tender and full of flavor. The sides are equally delicious complementing the entire meal. We visited the first Sat in Sept and the music performed by a first rate Jazz vocalist sealed the experience for us. read more

I want to start out by saying that I give out 5-star ratings about as easily as Sally Struthers lets go of a Hostess Cup Cake. I had been here a few years ago, and didn't remember this place as being anything special, but then again, I probably wasn't paying much attention. So when we came here the other night I wasn't expecting much at all. Boy, was I in for a surprise! Our party of five came here at 7pm on a Saturday night (the single busiest time of the week), and the service was top notch. Our waitress was friendly and prompt. She gets a 5/5. Our drinks were OK. We tried a couple off of their drink menu, but ended up switching to beer. Maybe we need to try a few others so I'll hold off on a rating here. Simply put, the food was outstanding. Nothing was overcooked or undercooked. The smoker out back was smokin' up a storm when we arrived, and everything was fresh. We tried a wide variety of dishes. The chili was some of the best I've had at a restaurant, but not the best I've had. I like my chili to be like quicksand in texture (this doesn't mean it needs ground beef people!). Here it is more soupy, but the chunks of meat made up for it. The meatloaf was by far the best that any of us have ever had - ever. The brisket was very good, and the ribs were decent (I'll admit I've had better/meatier). Prime rib - thumbs up. The sides sealed the deal! The sweet potatoes with apples were just amazing, as were the beans (I didn't think I'd ever rave about beans, but there you go). Can't really rave about the mac & cheese. The French fries were above average. The corn bread was a bit pricey, but it was the best corn bread that any of us have had. And there was absolutely no room for desert. Overall, the five of us had nothing but great things to say about our meals. The music was good - just a little too loud for the dinner-time crowd. Sure, I could pick knits about the small stuff, but nothing that could stand in the way of the super dining experience we had. Seeing the owner make the rounds and ask everyone how their meals were was a nice touch. Keep up the great work! read more

Loved the atmosphere here. Greatest staff. Just a nice place to hang out and have a great beer and yummy food. Good selection of food. A nice variety of ales read more

A complete restaurant experience. Has a great bar with friendly bartenders, and an interesting selection of beers. Bands on weekends. Everyone we met was really friendly and concerned with service. We sat outside which was good as long as the sun was up but it got a bit dark after sundown. They could use more candles. Now, the food. All well prepared and tasty. I had a meat lovers plate. The pulled pork and brisket was very good but the ribs I had were just too grisly for my taste. There was plenty of food and most of us had take home boxes. There are just mini-cupcakes for desert. That was disappointing. How hard could it be to add key lime pie, pecan pie and bread pudding to a menu? The appetizer menu is extensive. I'm going back to try some of the other choices. read more

Came to CT for some educational classes and so glad to have stopped in this GEM! The best staff and the best food!!!!!!! I will definitely be back here if I'm ever back in the state. LOVE IT!!!! 10/10 read more

I have eaten bbq up and down the east coast and this is some of the best. My first time here I had the burnt ends and they were delicious. I had the mac and cheese and baked beans for a side and I got some corn bread as well. Second time a few days ago I had the sampler, everything was melt in your mouth tender with a good natural bbq flavor, I barely used any sauces. I had the mac and cheese again but this time tried their version of sweet potatoe casserole. My only complaint was this trip we waited over 30 minutes for our food to come out and there wasn't many people there. read more

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Worst Mothers Day experience. Did not stay. So disappointed. Party of nine. Told had to wait for entire party. Ok grinned through it. We were all on time. Then told to sit at table crammed in by buffet. No place to walk or pull out chair. People in line had to hold plates over our heads to get by. We got up and left without eating. Had reservations 2 weeks in advance. Guess we are going to your competitors in the future. read more

I had to have their signature ribs as that is what I was craving when I found this place on iWant. The location is pretty small and I can see how it could get packed on a busy night. A good smoke flavor to the ribs. The BBQ sauce is sweet and moderately tangy. The ribs themselves didn't have a whole lot of spice, especially for the dry rub they claimed. Other than the smoke flavor, the spice was imperceptible or at the very least was overpowered and lost to the smoke. The meat was tender and moist and there was a bit of residual heat after you were done with each bite. I had some greens with my ribs and they had a nice vinegar bite with a bit of citrus flavor in the mix. The cornbread was dry and didn't come with butter or honey. They had a small selection of beers, only about 5-6 different major labels and they had a full bar. I did like everything I had, and it was memorable, but not the best. If you want the fifth star out of me, get some great beers to go with your very good ribs. Offer some heat/sweet/spice options to your BBQ sauce. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to good friends. read more