Village Smokehouse - Brookline

Not sure what happened to the quality of this place but it went downhill; something I witnessed first hand on a recent trip there for some dinner in the company of my lovely fiancee. We arrived on a quiet Monday night and were immediately seated near a window. My companion had never been to this place but I had, a few times, in the past and had always thought that Sweet Cheeks aside, that this was the best BBQ in town. I had defended it over and over again when people attacked it, naming Blue Ribbon or Soul Fire as their favs. Guess I won 't be defending it anymore, as our last trip there was lacking. We were considering having them cater our upcoming rehearsal dinner and wanted to try and sample a few of their food items in order to see what stood out and if it was going to be worth it. First our diet cokes arrived with some complimentary corn bread and then they took our order. We started with their 'famous ' stuffed jalapenos $6.95) which came out undercooked and were absolutely massive. I 've never seen such giant jalapenos... ever. They were probably three times the size of the average one you can find in grocery stores but I they were very crunchy and very underdone when they came out. A for effort, C for execution. Decent but far from great. For dinner I decided to get a BBQ sample featuring 2 meats and decided to go for their $21.95 combo. I got baby back ribs, which were delicious and also some brisket which was pretty good. The sides that came with it were corn on the cobb and coleslaw and they also add on a small, family style crock of baked beans in there as well. A ton of food which isn 't bad for nearly $22. That being said, while the proteins were good, the sides were bland and far from great. Their BBQ sauce is very peppery as well which doesn 't suit my palate all that much. But the big problem we had that evening was our waitress. She clearly was high as a kite and was absolutely terrible. I don 't recall her name but when I mentioned that I had a bell pepper allergy she had no idea what a bell pepper was. Not only that but she also was trying to ask me if I can eat them even though I stated that I was allergic. I was in absolute disbelief at how stupid she was and my fiancee and I were stunned. She was serious too. Not only that but she nearly dropped a plate of food on my lap and walked into our table three times and on the third time she nearly fell. If you 're going to some some marijuana on the job at least try to be discreet about it or something. All in all this visit was underwhelming and I don 't think that I 'd return there anytime soon. I used to love this place and would often drive there for a meal but I don 't know if I 'd be hard pressed to go again anytime soon. The food isn 't as good, bland in most instances expect for their ribs) and the service needs improvement. Not worth paying premium prices, especially with places like Sweet Cheeks who are kicking ass and dishing out great food consistently and with great service.

This is a great afterwork place. The bar is long but there's plenty of room for squeezing. The drinks are poured well and the staff is quite friendly. The BBQ? Oh.. I dunno..... sure smells good, but, alas... I've only been for the booze.

Walk into this place and you walk right out of Boston. In here my hair comes down, my jeans are ripped and I'm convinced I'm riding home in a pick up truck with the windows down and my toes on the dash. And I haven't even touched on the service or the food or the price. The food first. Looking to explore more but the buffalo chicken tenders are the perfect combination of flavor, spice and crisp. The burger is phenomenal and the barbecue sauce a triple threat. Plus you get to watch your food being crafted over a glorious open grill in the middle of the restaurant. We have to further explore the menu but a good start. Service. Impeccable. We only sit at the bar but everyone who works here seems invested in your good time and making this place great. And they pour heavy. So in conclusion, come to the Smokehouse, eat well, drink well, and escape the north east.

Had I reviewed before last night, I would have given this place a solid 4 stars, but my salmon was undercooked (and didn 't taste as fresh as it could have and one of my dining companions ' usual order of blackened cajun steak was reportedly not good. Still, I leave 3 stars as this place is still a fun and tasty experience. Their sides (with the exception of the very bland, card-board tasting rice pilaf are quite solid and my friends always say their steaks are good. One of them regularly opts for the beef ribs which look amaaaazing.. (a big sigh as I 'm still trying this vegetarian thing . I am also a fan of their jalapeño poppers. Oh, and they give you corn bread to start, which gives them a 20 point lead in my book : Definitely, definitely give this place a whirl. And don 't shy away if you don 't eat meat as the sides and salads are so good, you 'll still be satisfied.

My friend and I were looking for meat. We walked into the Village Smokehouse in Brookline and were immediately welcomed by the inconspicuous Riley. She led us to a table on the upper deck with a smile and curtesy with a swift exchange of the menus and drink orders. The food was tasty. We suggest the Hawg after a long Friday grinding away in your cubicle....thirsting for meat. Come get your HOG on at the Village Smoke House in Brookline. PS...ask for Riley...she'll also point you in the proper direction for a collar lowering.