I visited Smoque BBQ for an afternoon lunch while in Chicago with Steve. Smoque had been listed in an article as one of the top BBQ places to visit in Chicago. The brisket was the main attraction. We wanted to see if it lived up to its reputation.

In my opinion, Smoque is good if you want BBQ but don’t want to drive too far. It’s a small local eatery. Steve had brisket with french fries and brisket chili. The brisket chili was good but a bit runny. It could have used more heat and been a little thicker. He really enjoyed the french fries. I had brisket with french fries and macaroni and cheese. The brisket was tender but did not have much flavor. It was not seasoned well nor did it have a smokey taste to it.  I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the macaroni and cheese which was topped with bread crumbs. Generally I do not like bread crumbs on macaroni and cheese but this was very tasty. This was the highlight of my meal.

For dessert we ordered pecan bread pudding and peach cobbler. I was disappointed with the bread pudding. It is one of my favorite desserts and it was just ok. I probably would not order it again if I returned to Smoque. The peach cobbler was not the best either.

Overall I would say Smoque is good for local residents who are in the mood for BBQ.  I would not drive a long distance or go far out of my way to eat there. The second BBQ restaurant we visited in Chicago was by far better than Smoque.

Allison