smokestack urban barbecue | Page 6 of 9

As a New England resident having spent a fair amount of time in the South, I had high expectations of Smokestack Urban Barbecue hoping it to rival the BBQ in Tennessee and Texas that I’ve grown to love. Traditionally a Tex Mex dish, the Pulled Pork Tacos at Smokestack did not live up to the expectations that I had. The soft shelled tacos, although very fresh, seemed to be sloppily prepared with more emphasis on the embellishments to the pork than the pulled pork itself—which, with a dry rub rather than sauce, made it’s flavor indistinguishable from the meal. With the sour cream on the side, I had hoped that there would be more meat in the tacos themselves.

Although fellow Worcester Foodies reported very positive meals, the Pulled Pork Tacos, in my opinion, were a far cry from the authentic Southern BBQ that I was hoping to find.

In the Pits – Baby Back Ribs at Smokestack Urban Barbecue.

The “In the Pits” section of the menu at Smokestack Urban Barbecue allows you to choose from among a variety meats and side dishes to create a meal perfectly suited to your taste buds. I chose a half rack of Baby Back Ribs with BBQ Beans and Apple Slaw. All meals are served with a generous slice of corn bread. To while away the short time waiting for the entrée, I sampled the fried pickles appetizer, which was freakin’ fantastic, particularly when paired with a pint (or two) of Wormtown Brewery beer. The portion for my entrée was generous but not excessive, certainly a good value for my $12.95. The ribs were meaty, maybe a tick dry. This was hardly an issue, however, because I slathered my ribs with the two homemade BBQ sauces, both of which were packed with flavor. (At the end of the evening I still couldn’t decide which sauce I preferred.) The slaw was light and flavorful, and the corn bread was moist. As large as the slice of corn bread was, I wouldn’t have minded a second piece because it was so good. The BBQ beans were fine, but I like mine a little tangier. Good thing that BBQ sauce was handy. Bottom line? I am looking forward to going back to Smokestack Urban Barbecue to sample more of their southern cooking and hospitality.