When I think of BBQ, my dad instantly comes to mind not only because he loves it so much, but because he is probably the pickiest BBQ eater I know. The ratio of his ordering ribs to his actually liking them is probably 20:1. So, since he came to visit me in NYC this past weekend, I thought I'd make a reservation to try Blue Smoke. Almost everyone in New York City has heard of Blue Smoke and its fabulous BBQ menu. If you like BBQ, a loud and happening ambiance, great service, and awesome drinks - it's definitely a must. Don't go if you want to eat healthily, though - there's about 1 salad option and it's impossible to resist the loads of BBQ items and fatty appetizers like corn bread, sausage, and chicken wings - all of which I had an thought were absolutely delicious. All the food is unpretentious, straight forward, and incredibly flavorful. The sausage platter, for example, consisted of thick slices of a variety of sausages piled on a white plate with a side of mustard. Simple, but exactly what we expected from the feel of the place and the description on the menu. Everything about Blue Smoke is subtly aligned - friendly, comical and efficient waiters, straight forward, no frills food, great drinks served fast - it makes the restaurant business look all to easy. Though it was loud and incredibly crowded, the booths provided the intimate yet exposed setting we wanted and we were still able to contact a waiter at any given time.
Though they could have used a bit more sauce, the St. Louis ribs fell off the bone. On the other hand, I appreciated the un-sauciness of the pulled pork - for once a BBQ pork dish where you can actually decipher the meat being consumed. And, not to be forgotten was the long list of unique cocktails. I tried a prosecco-lemon-gin drink served in a champagne glass - AWESOME!
All in all, the important thing about Blue Smoke is that my Dad liked it. Though he agreed that the ribs could have used a bit more sauce, it's nothing that a request for the waiter couldn't fix. Definitely give it a try.
1 comments:
You have perfectly captured the flavor of the restaurant, and I echo your sentiments exactly. The service was attentive without being intrusive, and every dish I tasted was satisfying. Loved the chicken wings and ribs. Of equal significance I had a great time with you, Justyn et les hommes.
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