We don't eat meat or drink whiskey, so maybe not the best judge of a place that smells fantastic - a blend of smoky barbecue that lives up to its name. The squash "noodles" are ok, the cole slaw (one of our sides) is average, the wine is meh priced, but the maple cheesecake is, well, everything. Skip the meal and order that! Also I am pretty sure the brisket or steak or chicken here would be phenom. read more

It was a long wait, but everything tasted fresh and tasty. Our server was friendly and offered some great suggestions. I highly recommend sharing as it may not look like a lot, but you will get full. It was a good one time visit read more

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BEST ONION RINGS EVER. DON'T SLEEP ON THEM Me and bf dined in for lunch during our Cali coast trip. We came at a time where there wasn't much people, but it got busy by the time we left. We were taken care of by Bo. Bo was the sweetest and her hospitality was great! I ordered a pulled pork sandwich for myself and bf got the brisket. This blew our minds and exceeded our expectations. My pulled pork was tender, slaw balanced it out, and the bbq sauce was delicious. We love a hearty pulled pork sandwich. Bf couldnt stop talking about his as well. He also loved the onion rings too! While Solvang is mostly known for its Danish heritage, Whiskey n Rye is worth trying. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Pulled pork sandwich with onion rings - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

The restaurant is one of the newer restaurants in Solvang, but it has been here for years already. After walking by and seeing the people enjoying the outdoor seating for years we finally decided to give them a try, but we sat indoors. The service was very good. The atmosphere inside is somewhat like a higher end sports bar crossed with a higher mid range steak house. There is loud music playing and TVs with games on. There is a lot of public parking in the area but the closest lot behind the restaurant can get full during the tourist season in Summer and the holidays. There is street parking also available near by. If you are staying in Solvang everything in the main tourist area is within walking distance--just how far you want to walk. Even though a BBQ-steak place, we both got salads. One salad had filet mignon and the other chicken as toppings. Both meats were well seasoned but dry. The filet was not their fault as I forgot it should always be ordered rare or medium rare and never more than that. However, the chicken was cooked to the same level of dryness. The rest of the salad items were fresh tasted good. We got a rum & Diet Coke with the shot on the side and they did not skimp on the shot. Overall a good experience and would come here again when in the area. Most people sit outside, but the indoor seating was nice and our table somewhat open air or near the entrance. read more

So many negative issues. We came at 3pm and they already ran out of ribs and chicken. Found a long black hair in my light colored Mac and cheese which Should have been caught before it left the kitchen. Not impressed; will not be back. read more

The service was friendly and attentive. The food was delicious. Seated outside. It was a little buggy. Would have asked for the table bug fan but we thought the one we saw at another table belonged to a guest so we didn't ask for one. It didn't. If we make another trip definitely coming back, and asking for the bug fan. Ordered corn bread, fried pickles, brisket fries, and BBQ sampler with smashed potatoes and corn on the cob, old fashioned flight, 805 and a paloma. Went during happy hour. read more

We loved our experience here today for lunch. We ordered two steak (filet tips) Cobb salads and two hot chicken sandwiches. Modifications were easy and our servers even made suggestions like feta instead of blue cheese crumbles on my salad and it was fine to ask for the steak more well done. In fact, the service really was a shining star of this restaurant other than the food. The server we had and anyone else we encountered were like a breath of fresh air. So friendly and wanting to make sure we were happy and had everything we needed. We sat outside on the patio and it was very pleasant in the shade even in July. The feel is casual, but also really nice and well just comfortable without being either stuffy or too casual. I highly recommend if you are traveling and want a delicious and fresh salad to lighten up your menu for the day or love a good crispy chicken sandwich. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Crispy chicken sandwich and fries - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

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My wife and I stayed at the Wine Valley Inn, and were looking to find a drink other than another glass of wine. After about a minute's walk, we saw this place. It's practically next door, and it was open until nine. Also, the name was quite alluring. We each ordered a whiskey from their vast selection, and had them make them doubles. This is a better deal by far than ordering two. The whiskies were wonderful, and the bartender was friendly and knowledgeable. I didn't order food, as it was close to closing, and not wanting to be rude... I'd go back for sure. Lots of BBQ options, and BBQ goes great with whiskey. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

I ate here on my first evening in town. I arrived without a reservation and the restaurant was busy. I was able to get the last available table inside as it was too windy to sit outside. We were seated and had plenty of time to review the menu. There were two orders of brisket, one order of baby back ribs and one order of the BBQ sampler Trio with brisket, pulled pork and baby back ribs (mine). There wasn't many options for vegetables so I went with a Caesar salad and three cheese mac n' cheese for my sides. The food didn't come out all at the same time, sides were put on the wrong plates and we were shorted a salad. Overall my group was disappointed with the brisket and three of the four of us had it. The common feedback was that although the presentation looked good, there was a lack of bark or spice rub on it. The brisket although was wet likely from dumping juice on it was not that moist. It just didn't taste great. The baby back ribs had a nice spice rub and the light sauce on it tasted great. It might be the the sauce was punchy enough (plus the apple cider vinegar) that I didn't get to taste the smoke flavor but overall the ribs were meaty, looked good and tasted great! The pulled pork appeared different likely due to the Carolina Gold BBQ and had good flavor. Inside it had bar ambience and the tables inside were and extension of the bar. The service was friendly but service was slow. It took a long time to get out bill after we finished eating. This was a sold 3 star visit with a huge opportunity to improve the brisket, order accuracy and speed of service. read more

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Stopping for the night in Solvang, we weren't quite sure where to eat. After reading reviews and walking by Whiskey 'N Rye, we decided to give it a try given it had a good ambiance. Our waitress was very nice and understanding after we told her we were only going to order drinks and a couple of appetizers since we weren't very hungry. She suggested the filet mignon tips and the brisket chili, which was quite large and perfect for sharing. read more

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Came here for an Anniversary dinner as we just drove in from NorCal. So we were HUNGRY, and this was one of the places that were open late enough for us to squeeze in a dinner. Parking wasn't hard since it was basically an hour out til closing so street parking was easy and walking over was a breeze. Took a little long to get seated but that's probably because all the waitresses were busy going table to table to close out tabs. So no one was at the podium to take care of us promptly. Sat down inside and the interior is gorgeous, high ceilings and had that barn country vibe to it but modern with the black trims that gave it elegance. Originally came here to try the Fried Chicken sandwich however, the menus online didn't indicate that was only for Lunch, so they didn't have it for Dinner. Nonetheless, it's good to have options and with it being our anniversary, we ordered a Ribeye as we don't typically get it, but on special occasions we will. Along with a side of Loaded Fries. We should've paid attention to the ingredients listed as there was Jalapeno in the dish and my girlfriend can't do spicy so we just carefully picked them out. As for the Ribeye... it was like they gave me a New York Strip. (At least that's what a friend said when they looked at my picture) Even biting into it, it felt off. Sadly even the butter couldn't help the "Ribeye" it essentially had no flavor that could've elevated the meal. Which made me sad I didn't get the actual New York Steak as I'm sure the Chimichurri would've popped with flavor. The only thing that saved that night was the Pizookie. Served in a cast skillet with ice cream on top, this dish was warm and gooey at the bottom with a refreshing cold bite of vanilla Ice Cream to balance everything out. read more

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We stopped by for a late lunch and came by here. Looks like a cool place, at the end of the Solvang main drag. I put our name down as a walk in and we watched as people left and there were empty tables and my name was never called, while others who came by were seated. About 40 minutes later, I got frustrated, went on Open Table to make a reservation, and went back to the host table to tell them that I had a reservation and was called in shortly after. I don't know if that made a difference, but you gotta do what you gotta do. By the time we got seated, it was so late and we had dinner reservations a few hours later, so we only ordered a couple dishes and shared so we could save room for dinner. We ordered the Smoked Brisket sandwich and whiskey fried chicken sandwich, and when our dishes came, my whole family was pretty disappointed with what we got. Portions were on the smaller end and the food was average - premium pricing for non-premium food. I guess because it's in a tourist area, you're paying tourist prices. From the long wait to the average food, our overall experience was less than stellar. I bumped up a star for our server who was attentive and took the initiative to split our plates without us asking her to. Thank you! read more

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My husband and I had dinner at Whiskey 'N Rye and we were not disappointed. The food and service were great. Bartenders Brandy and Riley are wonderful. Great drinks and customer service. They are the best!! read more

Checked this place out while wine tasting nearby and it did not disappoint! Whiskey N Rye Smokehouse is a great spot to stop by if you're craving some solid BBQ. The food was delicious I genuinely enjoyed everything we ordered. We started with the fried pickles, and they were perfect: super crunchy and not soggy at all. You can tell they were freshly made. For the main, I had the platter and wow... it was so soft and tender, literally falling off the bone. Full of flavor and cooked just right. The staff was very welcoming and friendly. My friend and I had some nice conversations with them it felt like we were regulars even though it was our first time. The vibe inside is super chill, with TVs playing in the background if you want a bit of entertainment, and the overall ambiance is great for hanging out with family or friends. If you're in the area and looking for some delicious BBQ, this is definitely the place to come. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

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I am very late to giving this review. We visited the restaurant the first week of December 2025. The food was amazing. My boyfriend and I decided to get three different appetizers instead of entrées and shared the servings are BIG! Both of us were able to eat lunch and have leftovers for our lunch the next day. The bar was busy, but had a good vibe going. We didn't stay long because it was our last stop before leaving town, but we often talk about how good the food was here and will be a go to spot if we visit Solvang again. read more

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Wow Solvang this time of year is wilddddd! I brought a dog along with my boyfriend for a day trip and despite what all the blogs and instagrams say about Solvang being dog friendly - it's not really. Many restaurants had waiting lists that were 2+ hours or even closed their waitlists. So we had a hard time finding somewhere to eat! Whiskey n Rye seated us after an hour waitlist - we just walked around so the time passed fast before they called us. They have an outdoor patio so there were many other parties with dogs. The heaters were on and it felt quite cozy. Known for their whiskey - I actually had a gin cocktail and it was delicious! We both had the beast burger that had a mix of wild game and it was delicious. I'm bummed there was no gluten free bun option but fork and knife over lettuce wrap seemed to work just fine. Also the smashed potatos were a HIT!!! read more

Con: filet mignon tips were sold out. Wait was a tad much for table (early dinner on a Monday and for our food). Ordered coffee and instead got espresso. Pros: the filet mignon steak was cooked as ordered, smashed potatoes good, and corn great. Server: Gigi was nice though at the end, def felt like they needed our table... read more

Food was really good after a fun night in Solvang! Lots of outside seating but they do a great job with plenty of heaters, service by waitress was amazing and very fast and friendly. Always like the no rush atmosphere even though it was a very busy evening. Went the day after Christmas and it was very full in town. Only thing really missing to the trio meal is garlic bread or a Texas toast. But overall great dinner! read more

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Great place to eat, stopped by for dinner last night and had a great experience. My servers name was Michelle. She was attentive and kind. The service and food was great. I also enjoyed the ambiance, it was a cute environment to dine at. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Whiskey Wings and Caesar salad - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

Loved the service, especially from Emily and Ashley...THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR 30th ANNIVERSARY A MEMORABLE ONE. Food was out of this world, highly recommend. Location superb, no wonder everyone comes here. The manager was pretty much the cherry on top and refused to let us go without a special treat will definitely be back. Oscar & Natalie Gonzalez read more

Fantastic service and really delicious food. Keri our server was wonderful. She was so friendly, efficient, patient, and didn't miss a thing. I highly recommend this restaurant. Everything we ordered was amazing. read more

I am a little disappointed by this restaurant. The prices are really high but the food wasn't too good. The fried pickles were incredibly salty. The brisket mac n cheese had very little brisket and it was mostly fat, also the mac and cheese wasn't too flavorful. The cornbread was really good. The cocktails are tasty but expensive. The place is little, but nice. Service was good. read more

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Food was amazing! We went during happy hour and got a few drinks and shareables. Everything was very yummy. Our server was very nice and helpful, and service was pretty quick. We sat outside on the patio and the vibe was very nice and mellow. read more

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Another win for W&R! The tacos were stellar. Brisket tacos were so tasty and fulled with that goodness that is pulled brisket!!!!! Service was great since it was limited at Lunch time and a slower season. Always love the setting as well Here. Quiet and a gentle breeze sitting outside. read more

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Stopped by when in Solvang and am so lucky we did. My husband and I shared the fried pickle appetizer and the fried chicken sandwich with a side of the three cheese macaroni. All were sooo good! You know the mac n cheese is going to be delicious when they use cavatappi! Service was fast and friendly! This is definitely a place we'd return to when we're back in Solvang! read more

Gigi was awesome. Best service. Best BBQ in USA We had the sampler platter with ribs, brisket and pulled pork. Such a surprise of all the places, Solvang. Not Memphis, not Texas, not Nashville, Solvang CA Unbelievable whiskey selection also. You name it they have it . read more

Some of the worst BBQ I've had. If it weren't for the nice friendly service, I would have one starred this place. Showed up for lunch on a Thursday at 12:30, because yelp reviews say they sometimes run out of ribs and brisket for dinner, which isn't that uncommon in the BBQ world. But is this being smoked here? I got zero smoke out of any of the BBQ. No smoke rings on the brisket or baby back ribs. It's clear they are keeping this warmed in way too hot of a holding oven. The brisket and ribs were completely dried out. In fact we left ribs they were so bad. I don't think I've ever left ribs uneaten in my life, especially when it's only a half a rack. They were don't bother eating bad. 1 star for the ribs. 1.5 stars for the dry slices of non Smokey brisket. And who cares about the pulled pork at this stage mixed with a Carolina gold sauce, 2 stars I guess. Sides were elote corn, which was covered in room temperature goo and kind of gross to pick up and get all over your face and hands. Like eating huge amounts of mayonnaise and seasonings. Why would you slather that on after it was grilled? 1 star Mac n cheese - I'm glad we didn't get the $22 loaded Mac appetizer, and just this small side, As this was very average not very flavorful Mac n cheese. 2 stars Cast Iron Cornbread - served with an ice cream size scoop of butter on top...and boy did it need it, because it was so dry and over cooked. Nothing worse than dry cornbread. It did have a nice jalapeño flavor to it, that if not overcooked, this could be a good dish. 2 stars. Like I said, we didn't finish our BBQ as it wasn't worth getting full over and saved space for our next meal in town. Hard pass on this place. Maybe getting there early is bad, because you are getting last nights BBQ reheated? I have no idea, what they are doing here. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - BBQ Sampler Trio - all dried out and overcooked - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

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3.5 stars - more 4 than 3 We came much too early for our resy, but luckily for us, they give you a call when the table is ready so you can grab a drink elsewhere. We went with the highly recommended cast iron cornbread ($8). The jalapeño cornbread comes out piping hot with salted honey butter. The cornbread was sweet but packed some heat with the jalapeños. Delish. For my entree, I ordered the Taco Triple Threat ($21) which is listed under the shareables. All tacos come with home-made style white corn-wheat tortillas with a side of salsa and sour cream. I opted for 2 chimichurri brisket tacos and 1 Carolina gold pulled pork. The chimichurri brisket tasted v dry and the corn-wheat tortillas didn't help the cause. I thought the sour cream was a bit of an odd condiment to include with bbq type proteins. The Carolina gold pulled pork taco, on the hand, was delicious. All that BBQ sauce did wonders. Interestingly enough, this taco was the only taco that came topped with slaw and pickled onions which helped to break up the protein. Also dry were the baby back ribs ($34 for half rack). They're hickory smoked pork ribs with a house spice rub + BBQ sauce. They were good looking ribs and the sides were quite good, but the ribs themselves were smoked for a bit too long. There's a lot going for Whiskey N' Rye - nice patio, prime location, good heat lamps. It's an easy place to happen upon if you didn't pre-plan dinner. read more

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Let me start with one of the best and friendliest staffs I had the pleasure of meeting (you guys all deserve a raise). Now the food...... one of the more affordable places in Solvang since almost everything is expensive in this city. I had pulled pork sandwich many times here. It is so fresh, soft with a smokehouse flavor. I can eat this many many many times in a month. Served with a freshly made coleslaw that is not over drench with mayo with fresh pickles. Freshly fried chips I can eat as a buffet anytime (I love freshly made chips as you can tell). Maybe next time I will venture off and try the chicken which many speak highly of. Thank you for serving Solvang. I have been here many times and will return many times again. read more

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Best BBQ in Solvang!!! When you think of "BBQ", think of Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse. This place has the best Baby Back Ribs. I ordered a full rack). You can tell this was slow roasted, smoked for 2 hours with hickory. The meat falls off the bone with a touch of your finger. The BBQ sauce is so delicious on these; I had to ask for more. These come with two sides. I had coleslaw and baked beans; both were fantastic! The slaw was fresh, not too sweet with just the right amount of vinegar for that tart kick. The beans tasted slow-cooked as well, not only tender but full of BBQ sauce flavor. I shared a Cast Iron Cornbread. It's a jalapeno cornbread, salted with honey butter. Not sure if it was just my order, but the jalapeno was very faint, not spicy. But overall, still a nice dense cornbread. The service was awesome, from the friendly greeter seating us to our server. We sat outside on the patio dining, sunset. It was beautiful, but getting cold. The staff quickly set up a heater near our table and the cold was no longer. If you LOVE BBQ, you will definitely want to eat here. I'll be back for sure!!! read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - This is HALF of a full rack of Baby Back Ribs (I shared) with coleslaw and baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

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Came here for Valentine's Day dinner and unfortunately the experience didn't come close to living up to the hype. Be aware: they do NOT take reservations. We checked in at 5:16 PM and were quoted a 1 hr 45 min wait. What was frustrating was seeing multiple open tables while several parties, including us, were still waiting. When I politely asked the hostess, she responded with attitude, which didn't help the situation. That any establishment, doing the volume they do, to require people show up and wait around for more than an hour is absurd. We were eventually seated at a tilted four-top tucked along the side of the building, even though smaller less precariously placed tables were open. Odd seating choice, maybe intentional... Food was disappointing overall. - Baby back ribs: tough and undercooked - Pulled pork: mushy and bland - Brisket: eatable, but forgettable - Old Fashioned: undrinkable, sent it back The cornbread skillet with honey butter was actually very good and was comped. The only bright spot was our server Michelle C and another staff member--they were friendly, attentive, and professional. This was the only bad meal during our 4-day visit to the area. Between the long wait, hostess attitude, and less than mediocre food, we will not be back. read more

Roasted chicken was phenomenal. Brisket contained too much fat and half of the portion served was inedible. Since it was too late in the evening for us to feel justified in notifying staff, we just worked around it. Sat outside around 7pm, a chilly night in March, and heaters were going, but none near us. We do wish staff would have offered to set one up near us. All in all would dine here again as we frequent Solvang and enjoyed the ambiance and flavors. read more

Absolutely amazing!!!!! Amazing food and great waitresses! It was a good wait but totally worth it. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Salt roasted beet salad, dirty brisket fries, and filet mignon tips - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

What a wonderful surprise this turned out be! We've been going to Solvang a couple times a year for the last 18 years. Before this amazing restaurant was here, there was another amazing restaurant at this location which was a local favorite, which we totally adored. So since they closed, we made it a point never to even go in that section of town. Well this time around we decided it was time to just walk over there and see what was there, and we see this restaurant, so we decided to give it a try. Boy are we glad that we did! The service was wonderful, our waitress was kind and helpful. She also made amazing recommendations. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, amazingly clean and very well cared for. Now for the food! OMG! So so good! We stared with the Brisket Dirty Fries, and they were a 10/10! Would recommend everyone try them! I had the Cali Benedict with garlic smashed potatoes, the potatoes were another 10/10 unfortunately the Benedict was just ok. Don't think I'll have them again. I also had the Kentucky coffee On ice and again 10/10! My husband had the Smoked Brisket and Eggs and he have that meal an 8/10 and he would have it again. With that said, we have definitely found our new local favorite spot. Planning on having brunch there anytime we're in town. read more

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Came here for happy hour and overall it was great! The waiter was super nice and friendly. The restaurant was modern and upscale and was within walking distance of our hotel. Happy Hour is 1/2 priced shareables and the brisket dirty fries were so damn good! Second to that were the jumbo wings, they were actually a pretty good size. Cornbread was yummy but broke apart easily. The tacos I would pass on. Great place for group setting. It was a little uncomfortable at times because a table next to us a man kept looking over at us. Overall, the service was great, you won't regret ordering the dirty fires!! read more

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Our server, Michelle, is as phenomenal. Quick, friendly, and efficient service. GM, Amber, stopped by and asked how everything was and celebrated our 1 year anniversary, nice touch. The food was so great and loved the atmosphere. Thank you for making our anniversary very special. read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

Amazing ambiance. Great food and wine selections. Service was slightly backed up but definitely worth the wait. We will be back for sure. Loved it! read more

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Burger is great. Chile divine. Wonderful flavors. Excellent bourbon drink chooses. Creative menu with excellent kitchen performance. read more

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This is literally off the beaten path. We kept driving in circles. Finally, we realized to was on Atterdag where it dead ends. There is free and ample public parking directly behind the restaurant. The bbq baked beans were yummy. Really flavorful and warm. We got brisket and baby back ribs. The bbq sauce was pretty good. Very attractive restaurant inside. It's dark, moody and rustic vibes. The service was good. The best was the skillet chocolate chip cookie with caramel sauce! read more

Whiskey 'N Rye Smokehouse - Back view from parking lot - Barbeque Near Me - Solvang, California

Wow! The smell lured my partner and I here! And I'm so happy we followed our gut! It wasn't busy when we arrived, but after we were seated it definitely got full quickly! All the food was amazing !! Our ribs fell right off the bone ! I only wish they came precut but still the best baby back ribs I've had in a while! And can't forget the sides we got smashed potatoes and corn on the cob they were 10/10 We also tried the corn bread and it was perfect! It completed the meal for us ! I recommend 100% read more

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