Smoke BBQ Pit
“The collard greens were on POINT and I love collard greens.”
“The only hassle is waiting along time for your order so I suggest that you do yourself a favor and order ahead or call before picking up.”
“Give them a visit if your in the area and looking for a hidden gem.”
Smoke BBQ Pit
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
6 reviews
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Smoke BBQ Pitt has a outdoorsy decor to it. Everything is made out of wood whether real or faux. This place reminds me of the cabins in the Lifetime movies that married couples go to cheat on their spouses. There are flat screen tvs that line the walls. There's a separate bar area, a dining area, and a to-go line.
I've been here a few times for drinks but never for food. After going over the menu I settled on the Catfish Platter, Sweet Potato Fries with Mac & Cheese as my sides. I also put in a order for the Spiked Ice Tea which was great. I was elated with the decent sized Catfish. I'm greedy, sue me!
Elation turned into a nightmare immediately once I realized that my Catfish was cooked on the outside but slimy on the inside. The Mac & Cheese was store bought either Kraft or Amy's. The Cornbread that came with the platter was delish. I wish they offered a basket of Cornbread.
Remember Nickelodeon's Slime Time Show? That's what my four pieces of Catfish reminded me of. I prayed it was just a bad piece and the other three pieces would make up for my disappointment. Welp, hope was thrown out the window and needless to say it was sent back.
The waitress understood my plight. She didn't question me or put up a fight. What I found odd is that she had the Catfish Platter the night before and experienced the same thing. With that being said why didn't she give me the heads up?! She could've lied and said that they ran out of Catfish. I would've been annoyed because my palate was set on seafood, BUT I would've been grateful. Mucho gracias, Shaquanda (sarcasm).
I put in another order for the Chicken Wings with BBQ sauce which turned out just fine. The Owner which I didn't know his title at the time came over with a piece of Catfish to try. No apology from him. However he took the liberty to have the Chef fry up another piece for me. After sizing up the piece of fish the owner told me a boldface lie about the deep fryer not working properly.
The deep fryer was too hot and cooked the outside of the fish but not the inside. He insisted on me trying a piece. Against my better judgement I did. I knew what I was getting into once I sliced a piece to try. Looking at the Catfish I knew it was going to be slimy…AGAIN! Why must I relive this nightmare.
I explained to the Owner in a very matter of fact voice that it's not the deep fryer that's an issue. It's indeed the fish that's a problem. I proceeded to ask him about his seafood being frozen or fresh. "Fresh, fresh, yes of course!" Fresh?? Sorry, Papa no it isn't. Your FISH is spoiled, bad, and rotten. Beyond annoyed I told him do not serve this to anyone else. You need fresh seafood!
Everyone here is so warm and friendly! I came here a while back (before I even had a yelp account). It was forgettable then, so I haven't visited for years.
The other day I caught up with some girl friends and we had lunch here. I was blown away! The food was so good! I got smoked bbq chicken with candied yams, Mac and cheese..and it came with corn bread.
The highlight of my whole meal was the candied yams. Omgggg so gooooddddddddd. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it..oh! And try their spiked iced tea! It's quite lovely.
I had to take off a star because the Mac & cheese wasn't all that. I take mac and cheese serious lol.
I went to SBBQP previously during the time of their Grand Opening and enjoyed the food, I am unsure what transpired between 2012 and now…Perhaps the Chefs on staff or the lack there of? For a Soul Food establishment in a predominantly African-American neighborhood, this is a practical joke for an establishment to advertise "BBQ" that is not cooked. On my 1st visit I found the restaurant to be a family environment, sort of The Famous Dave or Texas Roadhouse Knock-Off. Cabin in the woods feel. I ordered the Catfish meal, 2 sides. The collard greens were tasty and the Mac-N-cheese was good in 2012. I also ordered the strawberry lemonade from the cocktail menu. Very good and no complaints. Service was dynamic. Fast Forward to the end of 2014 and a total 360!! I highly recommended the Catfish to my girlfriend because of the previous trip. I decided on the BBQ Brisket meal. $15.99 gets you 2 sides. I went for the Collards and Mac as ordered previously. Our food came out rather quickly and later it was revealed to us why. My girlfriend bit into her 1st piece of Catfish and exclaimed it was Light and tasty. On her 2nd piece she realized the texture was that of SUSHI ! Fried on the outside..and Habatchi Fish on the inside ??! The owner tried bringing out another piece to sample. Still uncooked and Raw. She had to resort to ordering BBQ WINGS. My Brisket was not the finest grade of meat and the temperature was not that of a "Smoked BBQ PIT". Tasted Microwaved. I was too hungry to request a hotter plate. The Mac and Cheese was Mediocre at best. Kraft Macaroni Deluxe perhaps? Or the generic Walmart brand? I ordered Peach Cobbler for dessert to make for a happy ending. Mostly brown sugar and peaches with crumbs and Vanilla Ice Cream. I can cook and after this visit, I am motivated to put places like this out of Business for good. The waitress was kind and the service was good, but what's the point when the quality of food is a 0?
The folks were hospitable and the size of the place was accommodating. Although given the full bar I got the impression it could appear less family restaurant than it did at 7pm.
The pork ribs were the highlight. The brisket, sliced thin was drowned in sauce but still survived. The child's chicken and waffle was chicken strips over waffle. My daughter enjoyed it. The sides we tried, garlic mashed potato, Mac and cheese were fair. The cornbread was good. All in all Id like to add 1/2 star. I'd probably go back if I were on or near Merrick Blvd. Decent family food.
So, interestingly enough, I found myself here twice in one day. So I think my review will be pretty comprehensive LOL.
My girlfriend took me here for a birthday lunch this past Saturday. When we entered, we were seated right away and given our menus. Our waitress( I think her name was Sherina was SO pleasant). We ordered the strawberry lemonade, which was delicious.
For meals, I got the half slab beef ribs, for sides I got the garlic mashed potatoes, cole slaw, and mac and cheese.
My friend got the half slab pork ribs, potato salad, mac and cheese, and something else that I don't recall.
I came later that night with my husband who was in the mood for some beef ribs after I told him about it.
He ended up getting the beef brisket with garlic mashed potatoes, and I forgot his other side.
I ended up getting the jumbo shrimp with coleslaw and bbq baked beans
So first the good:
The beef ribs were amazing!!!! My friend said her pork ribs were great too, I really appreciate a place where I can get beef ribs since I do not eat pork. The coleslaw was excellent, very creamy and not watery. Their cornbread was soft and perfect, they gave you butter to add but you really did not need to. The jumbo shrimp was great and so was the tartar sauce that came with it, the baked beans were good too.
The drinks were good as I mentioned. Service was great, and the restaurant had a good vibe overall.
The not so good:
So the booths are just wooden seats, no cushion, nothing, so it does a number on your bum by the time you get up. The "garlic" mashed potatoes just seem like regular mashed potatoes with gravy to me, I didnt taste any garlic. In fact, the second time we ordered them, it didn't even come with any gravy.
I was really disappointed that when we went the second time they ran out of beef ribs. I just feel like ribs are one of the staples of this place and they should make sure they always have them. The first time I went, my ribs came out luke warm, but when I told them, they quickly warmed it up for me.
I didn't try the beef brisket but it didn't look too good. It appears they cook the brisket then add the bbq sauce on afterwards. I think it would be great if they could actually cook the brisket with the bbq sauce so that all the flavors penetrate the meat. My husband didn't complain but after he tasted my shrimp said he should have ordered the shrimp instead.
All in all I still enjoyed both meals i had here, like most restaurants, you just have to get used to the menu so you can know what you like and don't like. The staff is friendly and makes you feel welcome. I will definitely be coming back here.
Oh yea, it was not hard to find parking at all, but just in case, there is a lot in the back.
Ok, let me to tell y'all! I'm from the south so I had been looking for a good soul food place that reminded me of home and my goodness this is it! Down to the buttery cornbread, yams, collards and mac n cheese, everything was delicious! I've been here a handful of times already and have been in NYC for only a few months and every time is a good one for me. Would come here every day if I could