Whether you are the casual consumer of barbeque or the serious carnivore of flavors, the menu at Smokestack Urban Barbecue on Harding Street will leave you pleased. Combining quality and quantity with a palate of exotic flavors, the options are endless and fulfilling. Whether starting with the fried dill pickles or the barbecued mac and cheese (mac and cheese served over brisket and pork) or just diving into the meal, your taste buds will be working overtime. The Pulled Pork (pictured here) is a staple to BBQ, but unlike most pulled pork that comes stringy and swimming in some liquid concoction, the dish at Smokestack is served in large, moist chunks with a flavorful rub. Need sauce? Smokestack has two house made barbecue sauces ready to go for added flavor and heat. Throw in a side of cucumber salad to cleanse the palate and their smashed potatoes, and you are in business.
Tag: smashed potatoes
Filet Mignon
Restaurant: Ritual, Main Street
The Facts: An 8 oz filet mignon wrapped in bacon with a port wine demi glaze. Served along smashed red potatoes and mixed vegetables of carrots and broccoli.
Foodie’s Review: First impressions were great as the meal was nicely presented with the filet resting lightly on the smashed potatoes with the colorful veggies rounding out the plate. Sometimes when you ask for your steak to be medium, you never know what you will get, but mine was cooked perfectly with the right amount of juiciness and tenderness. I always enjoy a nice sauce with my filet and preferably something light, and here the port demi glaze complemented the filet perfectly without being overwhelming to the taste buds. For that extra touch and who doesn’t love bacon, the strip of bacon around the filet just made the filet all that juicer. For me the portion was the right size but I could see that it might be on the tad smaller side for someone with a hearty appetite.
Though I am not sure how this dish related to the overall theme of Ritual, I would recommend this dish to those looking for a nice steak dinner.
This review was done by an independent member of the Worcester Foodies group during their monthly meeting in May 2011.