Smokin’ T’s
3976 Rte 22,Ste A, Long Grove, IL, 60047
Smokin’ T’s Menu
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Address :
3976 Rte 22,Ste A
Long Grove, IL, 60047 - Phone (847) 726-0726
- Website https://www.smokintsbbq.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Mel M.
The wife and I were very pleased with our dining experience. The staff are very friendly and the food is outstanding. We will definitely be back!
(5)Jennifer L.
I really was disappointed by this place. Let me first say, I was in the mood for BBQ (which is a rare occasion, maybe twice a year) and so I drove 15 minutes to this place to pickup dinner. I was first put-off by how expensive it was! But whatevs, I wanted to try it. Once I got home to eat, I was disappointed in the taste. It just wasn't that good! I won't be back. I'm sad too, cuz I was looking forward to this place. Everyone has their own tastes and opinions.... Sounds like other folks really like this place. In fact, my own Mother is a fan! So, while I will not be back, my family members may be.
(2)Kathryn G.
Smokin T's catered our wedding and everything was absolutely perfect. The head chef, Tom, is an unbelievable chef. So many of our guests commented on how outstanding the food was. We eat here all the time whenever we are in town. The chicken is phenomenal. The Southwestern chicken and tortilla salad is another one of our favorites. All of the sides are excellent (especially the corn muffin, corn pudding, and mac and cheese).
(5)William H.
I had a very specific issue with Smokin' T's which was that I did not get what I asked for. Wife and I had a hankering for some dry rubbed smoked chicken wings so I called Smokin' T's after neighbors had said it was exceptional BBQ. Person on the phone assured my that yes their Memphis dry rubbed wings were indeed smoked. I ordered two platters of wings and two sides with each..as others have mentioned the sides are generously portioned. Now I did not SEE the wings go into a deep fat fryer but the fact that my wife and I each commented that there was no way the wings had not seen an ocean of oil kinda called it out. Now maybe..for some unknown reason...they smoked them then finished them in a damn deep fat fryer but?!?! So my experience was bad but very very narrowly focused.
(2)Chet M.
I brought a friend with me for lunch after telling him how great their beef brisket was but was shocked that I was DENIED purchasing an order by one of the managers or owners of the joint. I wanted to buy 1 pound of the brisket along with a bunch of other items and eat it in their dining room. The "rib nazi" lady said we don't sell it by the pound to eat in. I said I've ordered it before on numerous occaisions from one of the girls, what's the problem? All she said we don't do that. Whoever sold it to you that way before made a mistake and we put an end to that. She no longer works here. I continued to plead my case... So what is the difference if I paid my $24.69 for a pound of brisket to-go or if we ate it in your dining room? She stuck to her guns and simply said we don't sell it that way to eat in. You have to buy a brisket platter to eat in. So to not beat a dead horse and add more embarassment to an already stoopid situation, I just bought a platter so my friend could sample the brisket and dropped about $48 for lunch. Since that episode, I've never been back to Smokin T's. Partly because that lady was so mean to me, a regular customer, but mainly because I found a great new place for ribs in the area. Ready for this? It's the new Mariano's Grocery that opened about 1 mile away on Rt. 22 and Quentin. It's got ROCK STAR smoked beef brisket, pulled pork and slabs of ribs for about 45% less than Smokin T's! Oh yeah, karma has a way of biting ya in the ass if you're a jerk ha ha!
(1)Jon F.
We were here for lunch and tried the Beef Brisket sandwiches. They were awful. No smoke flavoring, in fact, no flavor at all. The bun was way too much bread in proportion to hardly any meat, so your mouth is full of cheap hamburger bun, and then they put cole slaw on it, probably to hide that the meat has no flavor. The sad part was they cost $10 each, so with two fries and two drinks, the bill was over $30 for two tiny sandwiches (mostly bun) and we were still hungry!! We felt so sick that we threw away so much money for something that wasn't even tasty or good, yet didn't want to go anywhere else to get more food, because we spent $30 already. The fries were good, but not the Brisket. Fatty, no flavor, tiny portion of meat for a $10 sandwich! With a name like "SMOKIN" T's, we expected the brisket would be... SMOKED. But it wasn't. That's why they have to cover it in sauce and cole slaw. GOOD smoked brisket doesn't need ANYTHING on it. Someone also brought in their toddlers to run around and scream, to make sure the atmosphere was ruined too. Who brings kids to a place like this, and why do they ALLOW kids in a place like this? We've never been so sick about losing $30 for LUNCH, for 2 sandwiches!! We can get a nice full DINNER, with soups for that price elsewhere! Let's see how long this place lasts.
(1)jim s.
i was riding past about dinner time and had always wondered about the place but i couldn't really tell if it was open so i circled it on my bike and saw some people inside....so they really should make the place more visibly open from the road for people zooming past in their cars...... i ordered the brisket sandwich and soup special and the chicken corn soup was pretty good and the brisket sandwich was pretty good too....if the brisket had more of the edge fat trimmed off and if the bun had been fresher i would have given the place 5 stars....the place is nice and neat and clean and the service pretty good...and the selection of sauces was excellent......so for a bbq place out here in suburban hell it was pretty good and should be checked out by anyone not wanting to travel very far for bbq
(4)Gregory B.
The chicken was tasty and juicy, and a little bit smoky. The sauces were uneven, with the Memphis mustard sauce being the best. I liked the pulled chicken just fine. Again, tasty, a little dry, a little smoky. Nice fries. Pretty good salad, weak dressing. I thought the rubbed chicken wings were boring. For the suburbs of Chicago this is about as good as I can expect. I'll take it.
(4)Paul L.
I was very satisfied with the food. The burn and are amazing. The brisket was very tender and deliciously well smoked their homemade barbecue sauce is just give such a wonderful flavor. The pork ribs were a touch dry but flavorful and fall off the bone delicious. I had the beans also the were good but the low point of the meal. The beans were a lityle firm with a flavor that was a touch to tomatoey, I bet a longer simmer could have made them perfect. I was very satisfied I will go back, and refer anyone looking for good bbq to their location.
(4)Jon G.
Well, well, well. Here is a long awaited review. I'll try and keep this from being too wordy considering our "history". Barbecue is one of those things where it's nearly impossible to drop bias. It's very hard to determine a distinctively "GOOD" barbecue, because of the sheer amount of differences that you're dealing with. Different styles of ribs, different sauces, different sides, different BBQ experiences growing up, a preference or opposition to smoking, and the list can go on. Now, one thing that isn't hard to determine is a "BAD" barbecue. This is /not/ a bad barbecue. Barbecue joints have a bias. Places other than your usual go-to are typically tried either only in passing, or based off of word of mouth (AKA hype). Smokin' T's had been spoken up to me in a way to where it had more hype than the birth of Jesus. By one person, I had heard 10-15 times before trying it how it was the best barbecue around. The person who told me all this holds themselves in a regard as something of an authority in their opinion of restaurants, and still Smokin' T's appears to be the restaurant that has set the bar for my hype dealer, and still continues to be what all other barbecue is compared to. I don't know why. Their price is about $2 higher on everything versus the majority of the competitors. If their product was far superior than their competition's this could be overlooked, but that's not that case. Their standard BBQ Sauce is average. They have a pretty damn good vinegary mustard based BBQ sauce. Their sweet heat is whatever, I'd throw it in there at average with their backbone. The White Alabama is OK. I've yet to eat in, but I've picked up food from there 3 times and had it catered for meetings and for business lunches quite a few times. I also picked up food from them at apple fest once in Long Grove. This is all over the course of the past 3-4 years. I've tried most of what they have to offer, and I'll go through the big tickets with a quick rating and a quick description. Sauce Flavor Across the Board: 6/10 (if all they had was the Memphis Mustard, I'd say 8/10) St Louis Ribs: 6.5/10 based off meat alone, good bite, could be a bit more tender. supposedly only the largest racks are chosen, but the portions seem average. Memphis Dry Rub Wings: 5.5/10 every time I've had them they've been gristly as all hell, with a flavor that is great while chewing but has an aftertaste like bile Pulled Pork Sandwich: 6/10 average portion, decent flavor, inflated price. if i could rate the "sweet and spicy" pickles that come with these sandwiches it'd be a 3/10, but I'm not counting it. but seriously, the store bought Famous Dave's devil's spit pickles are better than these. and that's saying a lot, considering.. Brisket: 8/10 the one all-star they have in terms of meat. their brisket is great Smoked Turkey: 5/10 dry as a bone but has a great smoke. needs to be drowned in a sauce to be edible, then lose the good smoky flavor. six to one half a dozen the other. Baked Beans: 6.5/10 run of the mill molasses and brisket beans Mac & Cheese: 5.5/10 I've had two very different mac and cheeses here that both earned the same score. one was way watery, think KFC. one turned into paste as it chilled, think velveeta. Coleslaw: 7/10 nothing special, nothing awful. hard to mess this category up. Corn Pudding: 10/10 by far the best damn thing to come out of this restaurant, and the best thing on their menu. I don't know if it's the brown sugar brulee-esque top or the cocaine inside, but whatever they're doing with their corn pudding is a home run. it's awesome, and I've yet to find something comparable elsewhere. I thought it may be as simple as a bread pudding with corn in it, but my attempts at recreating it (while tasty) didn't quite stand up. Price 6/10 Overall: 6/10 They have a good variety of sauces. Some very good, some very forgettable. Their lineup of sides are average at best, with one in-fuggin'-credible side. Every time I've gone the staff seemed completely fine. Where does it count? The barbecue. Smokin' T's serves an average, albeit expensive, barbecue.
(3)Erin L.
I love this hidden gem. I regularly crave the chopped salad with pork or chicken on it. The sides are very generous. The 25 cent kids meal with purchase of an adult meal is something that can't be beat and my little girl actually eats it up = score.
(4)Shawn M.
The meats are wonderfully done. From the chicken, pulled pork to the short rib (beef). I've tried them all and highly recommend. Loved their chicken nachos and even their pickles are good. They are really smart about their to-go process too so don't worry about anything being soggy by the time you get home.
(5)Daniel T.
Used to love the place. The owners wife behind the counter ruined the whole experience. Painful. I feel bad for the employees. Food solid, but overpriced.
(3)Michael H.
Originally had their food at the Crystal Lake 4th of July fest. The food at the fest was really good and pretty well priced, so I was excited to visit the restaurant. Overall, I was pretty disappointed. The location is pretty easy to get to. Now it was a Sunday on a Labor Day weekend, but literally no one was in the parking lot. There were no customers the whole time, which makes me wonder how well this place really does. We could barely find the entrance and assumed the place was closed. I ordered the three slider sampler, my wife had the chicken sandwich and my daughter the wings. All three of us had drinks and I decided to have the side of beans. The service was pretty good. The two people behind the counter were nice and got our food to us right away, just without silverware. For all of us, the price was $46. I use Uncle Bub's to be a barometer for the Chicago area. May not be the best, but its my favorite. Between the price and food of Smokin' T's, they don't come close to Uncle Bub's. First, I can get the same type of sandwich but with two sides for the same price at Uncle Bub's. One side at Smokin' T's gets into the $2-4 range. Second, the selection is just much better at Uncle Bub's. As for the food, let me start with the side of baked beans. They were disgusting. I hate to be so direct, but I had one taste and didn't want to even look at the dish anymore. You guys really need to get rid of this or find something else to replace it. Next, I had a few bites of the chicken sandwich with the alabama white sauce. It tasted pretty good until I bit into a large chunk of chicken bone. I then had to open the sandwich and make sure there were no more bones to be found. Once I got past that, I have to say it was tasty. The pork sandwich had similar results. A piece of bone and chunk of grizzle. Once I got past it, it was again pretty tasty. Used the sweet heat sauce on it. I felt full and passed on the last slider. I also tried one of my daughter's chicken wings, but I found they were still pretty pink inside and overly crunchy on the outside. My wife said the chicken sandwich was pretty good. The inside of the restaurant is really nice and inviting. TVs are going, the tables are pretty big and comfortable and the bathroom is very clean and well stocked. I might try this place again, but seeing some of the other reviews here, I doubt I'll have a better experience.
(2)Phyllis D.
When a restaurant is empty it scares me. Nothing to be scared about. We ordered and food came quickly. St. Louis ribs fantastic, chicken wings incredible, chicken breasts moist and tasty. Side dishes were fries chips and salads. Variety of sauces great. I really liked the house sauce and the Alabama white sauce. I signed up for emails and grabbed a to go menu. I will be back soon
(5)Stay N.
I ordered the slider sampler which came with 3 sliders: pulled pork, pulled chicken and short ribs. Two small slices of pickles come with the meal for $10.95. I ordered a side of corn muffin $2.25 which was the best thing I had. The two sauces, 'The Original' and 'Sweet Heat' were delicious especially when mixed. We came here at about 5:30pm on a Wednesday and we were the only ones dining in. Maybe it was the leftovers from the morning/lunch, but the food was pricey, which wasn't all that, especially for the portion.
(2)Chris S.
As a former southerner I love me some BBQ! However, this place misses the mark. Service: THE reason for a 1 star review. Employees were rushed and downright rude. I didn't see that you are supposed to grab your own silverware at the drink stand so when my food was delivered and the waitress asked if there was anything else she could get me I asked for silverware. She gave me a weird look and told me that I was supposed to get it myself But that because I had forgotten to do so she would (grudgingly) go back and get it for me. Um okay. Welcome to the restaurant I guess BBQ. I had the pulled pork platter. I think I have just consumed about one cup of salt. There was a ton of salt on the pork. I mean like soft pretzel salt level salt. This really made me question the quality of the meat. Baked Beans: the baked beans are just plain weird. It is sort of like a baked beans chili/tomato stew of some sorts. Pretty tasteless. Sweet Tea: a comment on Yelp that I read mentioned that they need to clean out their drinks machine because all the drinks have a funny taste. I'll second this - I wonder if they have well water that they're not treating properly? Not a fan. I'm really sad that I don't like this place. It's really close to my home and I love barbecue. But the rude service (the owner -husband and wife?) ignored me on the way out entirely and no one checked back with me after the food was delivered) etc. make this my last visit :-(
(1)Connor B.
Smokin' T's BBQ: above average, but better choices in the area. Location & Ambiance: The location is good, and allows for you to always have place to park. The ambiance is good, but it feels like something is missing. There is no BBQ community feel to it, and it leaves me wanting more every time I have gone. The recent redesign does improve the place quite a bit, but still something feels left out. Food: The food itself is good, but not great. It is your average run of the mill BBQ. This paired with their small menu doesn't do much for me. With this in mind everything I have tried has been good, but nothing that left me wanting to come back. Service & Staff: The service was average, and the staff was nice. Once again, nothing impressive just meeting expectations. Overall, smokin' T's is good and if im in the area craving BBQ I might consider it. Its definitely not a place where I would go out of my way to go to.
(3)Jeff S.
I get the chicken every time, but everything else is great too. Sides are generous. They occasionally have all you can eat brunch specials. Best barbeque in the area.
(5)Emily J.
I got food poisoning after eating the pork nachos from their food truck at a summer event. I will never eat this food again :(
(1)Tom F.
Kinda pricey..... But damn good BBQ.... I would go to this place again in a heartbeat.. Nice people.. The place has a great look..
(5)Maria M.
Great! We eat here all the time. The chicken burritos are incredible along with the baked beans and sweet potato fries. Yum!
(5)Cletus T.
Beef's pretty good, sauces are good, it's pricey for what it is, and growing up in KC, I'm that BBQ jerk that measures everything by what I grew up on. This comes close enough, but THOSE BEANS - c'mon. . . are those Lima beans/Butter beans up in there? Stop that, this instant. Everything else has been pretty good and I've been back a few times and will probably will go back as it's close. Never had any problem (3 visits) with staff, all seem pretty helpful and friendly. I did go through the drive through once and that was a 10 min experience. Last, REALLY think the community connection - last year at the holiday season, folks could buy a needy family a BBQ meal and for what they were asking for donation, the offering had a boat-load of food, so Kudos Smokin-T. Pretty good meats and pretty good folks.
(3)KurryStop I.
Decent food, rustic, great location. Spent a lot of time here planning on our business model for Indian food delivery. Family friendly. There is a great party hall attached but haven't seen this place bustling even on weekends...little treasure out there!
(4)Rob S.
Got a full rack of ribs, an appetizer order of the wings, the corn soufflé pudding, corn bread, Mac n cheese and each of the sauces. The wings were honestly some of the best I've ever had, especially dipped into the white sauce. The white sauce is a great complement to the meat. The ribs were somewhat fall off the bone. They were a bit fatty but the flavor was good. I liked the vinegar sauce and the original sauce. The mustard is good too but I am not a big mustard fan. The corn soufflé is delicious and the corn bread is pretty good. Mac n cheese was creamy and hit the spot. Overall, a great q spot in the burbs. We will be back!
(4)Trevore M.
Ambiance is great all the way down to the wooden wall. I had the Slider Sampler and was not pleased with the portion size given the price. The pulled pork and chicken portions had a nice smokey flavor but both were rather dry. It's tough to get the balance right though. I also ordered a side of fries. Would have hoped for some dry seasoning with flavor but they only came with salt. Overall good BBQ but a bit on the expensive side and there are better options around.
(3)Michele V.
Tried this place on Labor Day. Beautiful day and we were looking for a casual place to eat outside. The place was very overpriced for what it was and the food was mediocre at best. With Urban Barbeque down the road, this was a poor choice for us. Sauces were runny and also nothing to write home about. We would never go back.
(2)Sig P.
I have been here a cpl times and have to say i love the pulled pork plater with the corn pudding. The food is good its clean but the only draw back is its $$$.
(4)Joan S.
I don't give many 1-star reviews, but let me save you a lot of trouble: skip this place. Do you want a barbecue chicken sandwich? Go down the road to either Sunset or Mariano's and buy a rotisserie chicken, a 6-pack of Wonder white buns and a bottle of generic barbecue sauce. It will STILL cost you less ($8 + 1.50 + 2.50) than the $13 I paid at this place for a chicken sandwich and 12-oz drink, and it will feed you and five of your friends. I am not kidding. THIRTEEN bucks for a sandwich with no sides and a bad iced tea. The chicken didn't even taste smoked. Only the bun tasted smoked (like they put smoke seasoning on it and grilled it). I am still reeling from how something so expensive could be so bland. Even the house barbecue was bland. The white sauce was fine, but not worth the $5-7 I was overcharged.
(1)T B.
Very smoky place. Very smoky tasting menu. Too many items with their smoke and smoked meats. Sticky tables and dirty bathrooms. Says a lot. Very pricey for the quality. Way out of the way and not worth the drive.
(1)evan c.
First bbq beef I've had anywhere north of Austin which has the right texture, killer coleslaw,
(4)Steve M.
We were out Christmas shopping when we realized we were getting hungry. We were on our way to a familiar and our usual restaurant when we decided to look on yelp for something different in the neighborhood. We had read reviews about Smokin' T's and we were literally within 100 feet of the place when we decided to give them a try. It turned out to be the right decision. My wife and I both love bar-b-q and this place is where you will get a really good quality bar-b-q. When you walk in to the place you place your order. Once you place your order you to a seat at a table and they bring you your food to your table. I went with half a slab of the Saint Louis ribs that came with two sides which I ordered mac-n-cheese and coleslaw. The ribs were very tender and flavorful and easy to eat down to the bone of the rib. If you are looking for the meat to fall of the bone, these don't do that. But then again a real rib is not supposed to fall off the bone. The mac-n-cheese was very good as well. It was creamy with a hint of pepper. The coleslaw was very good as well. My wife went with the sampler sliders of short rib, pulled pork and pulled chicken. Her order did not come with a side so she ordered fries. She couldn't finish her meal probably because she kept sampling my mac-n-cheese. The location is kind of off the beaten track so I can't imagine them getting to crazy busy. They do have a drive thru and I noticed a truck in the parking lot that looks like they travel to different locations. The dining room is pretty big and they have three TV's to watch your favorite team. Each table has bottles of bar-b-q sauce to add to your meal if you want. They also sell beer. Can't wait to come back.
(4)Colleen S.
My whole family 8-71 years old loves Smokin T's. We love eating in but also order catering for holidays when we don't have time to cook. Good is great. atmosphere great. Prices reasonable for great food quality, preparation, and gracious staff. Highly Recommend!
(5)Maria G.
Worth the drive! I was going up north to visit a family member and remembered a coworker recommended this BBQ joint. Decided to stop by for some lunch and had already taken a peek at the menu online before we arrived. I ended up getting the 3 meat combo (I chose the ribs, chicken and pulled pork combination) with a side of beans and Mac n' Cheese to be shared amongst the hubs, my little one, and myself. It was a ton of food and sooo good!!'. It rivaled any place in the city serving BBQ. The Mac and cheese was creamy and had a slight sage flavor to it. The baked beans were reminiscent of a chili and they served us a whole big bowl of it!!! There was so much that we still had some leftover to take home and enjoy later. The dining room was nicely furnished with large flat screens and plenty of tables and chairs. Definitely a great experience and look forward to going out of my way to make a trip here!
(5)Luis B.
I had fun making this trip to Smokin' T's. I wasn't too sure on what to expect. You order your food first then take a seat in their dining area. The dining area was pretty big and I felt like I was in someone's huge dining room. I love the big tables, the big chairs, and the comfy benches. I was right at home. I was with my family and we shared a three meat combo (ribs, pulled pork, and chicken) with two side dishes (mac 'n cheese and beans). Everything was great, and wasn't too expensive. We even had a whole plate of left overs to take home. We also tried dessert (Mom's Gooey Butter Cake), it was BOMB! Loved it. I'm definitely a fan. We have family around these parts, so we'll definitely come back and try the rest of the menu.
(4)David R.
Corn pudding is very good I had almost all the food very goods. The ribs is very good I do not like all rib place in this area famous Dave need to go out or business. Little high in price but that ok.
(4)Carol L.
Great BBQ place, try the poll pork, short ribs, baked beans, and the corn pudding... Highly recommended!!!!
(5)Rhett S.
Finally I found a BBQ go to! I ordered the ribs, pulled pork, slaw and corn pudding. Everything was good. I had mine as carryout but I did notice how clean and inviting the restaurant was when I was picking up. I've been searching for good BBQ in the nw burbs for years and feel like I finally found what I'm after. Prices are comparable to every BBQ joint I've tried. Don't hesitate!
(4)Liz T.
Was hopeful this time. This is my third trip and THEY'RE out! Ridiculously expensive. I had a small beef sandwich, (which ended up being $13) shows $10.50 on the online menu, corn pudding, and a glass of wine = $23. Close to my house but each time a little more disappointed than the last. WAY too many places to eat in this area to waste my time and $$. Plus I was still hungry!
(2)JC O.
Unfortunately I have had to reverse my thoughts about Smokin T's. I was a patron of the restaurant for many years but now I will never go back. Unfortunately the standards have slipped and the food is awful. Ribs have been consistently overcooked, and the chicken was flavorless and dry. The expansion of the restaurant has unfortunately cause a slip in standards. They should also clean out their fountain machine as the drinks and water all taste awful. I hope they fix this.
(1)Brian P.
Service was great... Great atmosphere... Good Beer available. The ribs were awesome, cooked perfectly, seasoned to perfection. There sauces were freakin awesome. The slaw was even better. Price wise, it certainly isn't cheeper then other places around. But you absolutely get what you pay for. After trying the only other BBQ place around LZ. I will definitely be sticking with smokin t's for my ribs of choice. They have a horrible location, cause I don't think to many people know about them. I could be wrong, I'm kind of new to the area. But it is worth finding and getting some Grubb.
(5)Lisa G.
Best BBQ around in fact it's the only barbecue around always great food dine in or carry out! As always BBQ can be pricey but always a crowd pleaser we have eaten here for years and just love it! The beans are excellent everything is so smoky and the sauces are very unique also! Try t hr white sauce with the home made chips! My fav sandwich is the pulled pork topped with cole slaw! The kids LOVE their Mac n cheese it melts in your mouth!
(5)Dave H.
Agreed! Awesome food! Great bands on the weekends. Huge portions! Good selection of beverages.
(5)Christina B.
Good food, but for a price. They have a nice, cozy dining room and I've sampled a variety of the food and it's all good, but it does seem to be a bit pricey. Also, they don't have hardly any vegetable or vegetarian options. I know it's a BBQ place, but these days, you have to have some alternative on your menu.
(3)Terry B.
A little pricey but the food is good. They have a variety of sauces that appeal to a wide variety of tastes. If you prefer not to drown your melanin sauce, I found the seasonings that they use to be a good complement to the smoky flavor.
(3)Taylor M.
We used Smokin' T's to cater a football party and everything went off without a hitch! Everyone loved Smokin' T's meats, sauces and sides! We ordered the beef brisket and the pulled pork. Smokin' T's provided us with four bottles of BBQ sauce which were equally delicious. For the sides we got coleslaw, baked beans and the macaroni and cheese. Needless to say, I loved the mac and cheese. I would definitely order catering from Smokin' T's again in the future!
(4)Allen B.
I found this place on yelp, but didn't read all of the reviews so I didn't have an opinion other than seen 4 stars and that it was within a couple of miles of where I was at the time. I had the three slider sampler, water and no side item. Here are my thoughts. Beef spot on Pork is good Chicken is dry Sauces, the only one worth writing about was the white sauce, it was very good. The other sauces were just there. Prices were very high, most sandwiches were almost 10.00 with no frys or a side. So you are going to be at 20.00 for a lunch sandwich with a side and a drink, the dinner prices were very high, this is the most reason to give it 3 stars over 4. If it wants 4 star with these prices setup up the service. Would not drive out of the way but wouldn't say no if someone wanted BBQ close. Cheers!
(3)Marissa B.
The meats were great, but we had very little luck with the sides. My husband and I like to split some things, so we both got platters (each comes with two sides) and tried four sides but only really liked about one of them. We had the chips, mac 'n cheese, cole slaw and baked beans. The cole slaw was the only thing better than what you'd get anywhere else. All the other sides were pretty subpar, and I would definitely say to not ever get the baked beans. They were more like chili flavor-wise. Not a fan. The meat, however, was crazy tender and smokey. It was great. I had the pulled pork and my husband had ribs and wings. We may or may not be back. If we do, we will definitely get better sides, but otherwise I'd say it's worth a try.
(4)Jeff S.
What a great place for families as they have a great kids combo meals and obviously great food for mom and dad! Have had the slider sampler (awesome!) before and on this trip, the pulled chicken with the Alabama sauce; it was so good had to buy a bottle of the Alabama sauce to go. Oh by the way, love the inside of the restaurant with the barn wood doors and all the tables of different sizes and heights; we try to get the corner booth to keep the kids corralled in between bites of the Mac and cheese.
(5)Samantha R.
Om nom nom, if only it was closer, I would eat here everyday! I love their chicken with the white sauce, so good! We go here a lot and have tried a lot of different things on the menu and everything is very good! I love the variety of sauces, especially the mustard one, it's really good on the macaroni and cheese. My boyfriend always gets the pork, and it never disappoints. Seating area is big and staff is always friendly.
(4)Kent S.
We tried Smokin T's recently as it's been a while since we've visited. The new dining room is nice. Nice large tables if you have a group of 6 or 8. The ribs were overcooked and a bit dried out. Fries and beans were tasty. Nice options for beer and wine. We'll visit again but will probably try something other than ribs.
(3)Nancy S.
We catered food for 35 people. The food was delivered on time, piping hot. We put in a 200 oven for a short time to get everything set for dinner. We ordered corned beef, pulled pork & chicken. The corned beef and pork were the favorites. Totally ran out of corned beef, it was so moist and excellent flavor. Everyone loved the variety of sauces. The beans and homemade chips got raved reviews. In my book if you are making over 50 people of mixed ages happy with food, everything was excellent. If you haven't tried Smokin Ts put it on your list :) Nancy Kildeer, IL
(5)Sherwin C.
A surprising place. Long grove is probably the last place most people would look to find good barbeque but this place makes great food with deep smoky flavors. I particularly like their beef short ribs, chips, and chicken wings.
(4)Tom M.
SUMMARY ... 1. The BBQ is okay. Better elsewhere. 2. The prices are too high for what you get and the atmosphere. 3. I choose not to get here very often. The competition is much better at about the same prices.
(3)David B.
I can't believe how they stay in business after ordering take out from here. $15 for a brisket sandwich and fries? Oh wait, forgot the sweet pickles and mustard sauce they threw in the container. Is the rent that high? The sandwich was okay, too fatty, but a generous amount of beef. I'm not planning to return.
(1)Mike F.
Good food. Huge sides, even on kids meals. It's a little pricy, but the food was very good quality. The dinning room is cute, with a couple of big screens.
(4)Catherine S.
Really decent nearby BBQ, which is a good thing. A bit on the pricey side, which means we won't be regulars - my husband and I split a slider sampler and some slaw, my girls each got a kids' meal (2 total), our bill came to ~$30 for not an overwhelming amount of food. Well, okay... an overwhelming amount of french fries came with the kids meals, so we didn't leave hungry or anything. The meats were each very good, the five sauce choices above par. Our favorite was the mustard one. Good stuff. This place reminded me very much of Libertyville's Smokehouse. If you like that place, you should like this one, too.
(3)Darci S.
Smokin' T's has grown on me. I've grown to like their unique baked beans, and the pulled pork has been better than on my first try. Their new expanded space is really nice, too. My only issue now is the price...a little overpriced in my opinion. Real Urban BBQ is great and seems cheaper to me, so once their Vernon Hills location opens Smokin' T's will have some serious competition. That said, if you are in Long Grove and craving BBQ its good choice.
(4)Ed F.
Seeing the positive rating here, I was expecting much more. The food had a decent flavor, but these are St. Louis style ribs, so they tend to be dry and more tough than the 'fall-off-the-bone' style. First, is was VERY expensive (over $80 for 4 meals) - come on folks, there's no waitstaff, so you're paying $30 for a full slab dinner, ONLY. That's about $10 more than the going-average for a full-slab takeout (Portillo's is 10-minutes away). Furthermore, we're not talking premium sides - mac 'n cheese, fries, cole slaw, etc., so it's not like these add significantly to the cost. The "special" was $10 for a pulled-pork sandwich with a bowl of chili (no drink). Second, the staff is not helpful at all. We arrived around 5PM when they weren't busy at all, and mulled-over our options. My 7-yr old wanted ribs, but they don't have a kids rib meal (only 2 sandwiches, pulled-pork, or pulled-chicken). Come-on, how hard would to be to accommodate that request? We decided, and told the cashier, that we would just be ordering a drink, and sharing one of our rib meals. Then, while paying the bill, I notice and mention that they have a 25¢ kids meal deal. I question this, and that we paid $2 for a drink. The cashier wasn't willing to change anything. Not only would we have saved some money, but one of her teenage brothers would easily have eaten that meal. Finally (and again, there was only one other customer eating-in), how hard would it be for someone (the manager) to walk-around to the tables and ask how everything is? I'm not asking for full service waitstaff, but when you drop $85.59 on 4 meals, I expect a little more (especially since we had to toss our trash).
(1)Drew W.
Went on a Saturday night around 7ish, place was suprisingly not too busy. Compares pretty favorably to SmoQue, which has long been my "benchmark" for Chicago Q. I am a tough judge when it comes to the Q, probably owing to the fact I am a KCBS Certified Barbecue Judge. I grade this place as very, very tasty! A little hidden in a Long Grive strip mall. The addition they put on gives it a nice little restaurant vibe, great tables, decor, plus three flatscreens for television viewing. Service was prompt, pleasant, and efficient. Place is clean, really clean. My lady friend and I split a 4 meat combo plattter (pulled pork, ribs, chicken (dark meat), and short rib). Sides (two included) homemade chips and coleslaw. Opted for two additional sides, mac n cheese and corn bread muffin. Beverages available include a standard coke machine, beers (some craft selections), and tea and lemonade. Beers were COLD. One minor gripe...paper cups for sodas were flimsy, made it hard to use to push tab on Coke machine to activate dispenser. Weird, because every thing else is well thought out and executed. Food Ribs-very good. A little too tough to pull off bone for perfect, but just a hair. Pulled Pork-solid Chicken-very moist and tasty Short Ribs-excellent, meaty and great smoke ring Mac n cheese-kinda bland, but not the worst I've ever had Coleslaw-good, not great. Portion good sized though. Homemade chips-nice Corn bread muffin-excellent Sauces (on table) were Sweet Hot, Memphis Mustard, Original, and a NC Vinegar. Mustard was the star, but all were really, really good. Much better than Main Street in Libertyville and in some ways netter tham SmoQue. Definitley woudl go back. Loved the roll of paper towles on the table. Some great "big" tables if you were bringing a good sized group. Well executed and well run. They cater as well. 25cent kids menu. They do breakfast on the weekends too. Menu looked interesting (and reasonably priced).
(4)Harley P.
Yes, it's really good. I've eatin on the patio and enjoyed some catered meals at the office. Really good BBQ. You'll be back.
(3)Paul R.
Drove past it a few times always wondering saying to myself 'well it can't be better than urban BBQ' which everyone know is just right down the street. Well, decided to stop, my friend and I both had the short rib platter, I had the Mac n cheese and 4 dry rub chicken wings and he had the Mac n cheese and homeade chips for his side. 2 platters, with 2 cups of chicken tortilla soup and 2 small drinks = $57. I thought that was a little high, the platters were $20 by themselves. Anyways the sides were very good, chicken wings cooked to perfection, although I thought the dry rub was just a touch bland which I thought was ok b/c of the awesome sauce selection that they had on the table. The short rib meat was ridiculous, extremely delicious, best I have ever had. Tried a few different sauces with it (not that it needed it) and I was very pleased. I would have preferred a lil less Mac n cheese and gotten another slice of meat. My friends portion of meat was larger. I'm not complaining too much though, I am full and it was good. Definitely will come back. It will hard to try anything else but will give it my best college effort. Try it out, at least you will have one more experience in life .
(4)Ross H.
This is the first in a line of barbecue reviews I work on a cruise ship in the Caribbean, where there really aren't any "barbecue joints". So when I'm home on my leave, I'm trying to take in as much smokey, tangy, saucy goodness as I can (FRIDAY IS RIBFEST CHICAGO!). Last Saturday, I went out to eat at Smoque, which, as you can see by my review of the place, is tops in my book. Inspired by the mostly positive reviews of Smokin' T's (plus the face it is so close by to my parent's house), I decided to give it a whirl and order my traditional barbecue feast -- full slab of ribs, mac n' cheese and corn bread. Well, ladies and gentlemen, it's wasn't terrible by any means, but it wasn't great either. First of all, I have to disagree with Marie F., who thought Smokin' T's fits the bill of great barbecue which doesn't need sauce. Smoque fits that bill, as I actually eat most of my ribs sans sauce, as the juiciness of the meat, combined with the flavor of the charred rub more than make up for it. Here, however, even with some sauce pre-applied for me, I found the meat with very little flavor and slightly dry. Yes the meat fell of the bone, but I think the ribs maybe should've been pulled off about 10 minutes earlier. Then, they would've been perfect. The sauces definitely helped though. I especially liked the "Sweet Heat," which tasted as it was named. The original sauce is very nice as well, but nothing extraordinary. The Mac n' Cheese was ... (puts on thick frame glasses, beret and soul-patch) "uninspiring" (takes them off). The cheese sauce was a little to thin for my liking, the addition of baking it with bread crumbs on top I think would help a lot. The corn bread muffin was pretty good -- sweet, moist. There are even a few kernels of corn in it, which definitely adds a textural element to it, but I don't know if the firmness of the kernels complemented or contrasted the softness of the muffin. Prices are norm for barbecue, so people on here who say it's "pricey" probably don't go out to barbecue establishments enough for me to trust with their reviews. Ambiance wise, it's a order-at-the-counter place but tastefully decorated -- kind of got a "country/farm" theme to the place. Quality wise, it's slightly below Famous Dave's, which still has the best barbecue I've had in the 'burbs. But if you're close to Long Grove and have a hanckering, I'd say that Smokin' T's is sufficient.
(3)Bill C.
We go pretty often. Best BBQ I've had in the area. But i can't bring myself to order anything other than the pulled pork sandwich and chili special. Staff is nice and service is fast. Definite improvement since they expanded the dining space. liked it before and like it even better now.
(5)Thor V.
Weird location but good find. The time I went the place was empty so we got our food right away which is always a plus. Ordered 1/2 slab St. Louis style ribs slab which were very good. Got two sides which I chose the Mac n Cheese and the corn pudding. The corn pudding was very good for never having it before and the Mac N Cheese was good but not the best that I have had. My wife got the slider sampler and a few chicken wings. The wings were dry rubbed and I thought they were very good and the samplers were not bad either. Will definitely go back.
(4)Bob M.
The food is great... but man is it over priced. I'm guessing part of this is due to the fact its in long grove... but still. $10 for a sandwhich with a side of 2 pickle slices is kinda crazy, even for dinner... but especially for lunch. I am a bbq snob, and I admit the quality of the food is top notch... but I think I'd rather save a couple bucks and settle for famous dave's ...or make a trip to the city where the quality BBQ is more reasonably priced.
(3)Brendan L.
Unbeatable BBQ, some of the best I've ever had! It's truly an experience, and worth the trip! When you arrive it feels like your in a very rural area and then this gem appears! What a find! If you enjoy authentic BBQ, you have to come here.
(5)Laurence K.
The best Wings around. The Brisket/ Shortrib is also fantastic
(5)Kristen D.
I hadn't been to Smokin T's since they expanded and added the Barn to their original space and I am so impressed. The new space feels so welcoming and probably quadruples the amount of people that can fit in the restaurant. The food is still great and I still stand by my previous review. This time I had the pulled chicken sandwich and it was the perfect amount of food with one side. Keep on keepin' on Smokin' T's.
(5)Joanna L.
This is my favorite local bbq place. Their sandwiches are really good. I usually get the kickin chicken, bbq pork, wings or southwestern chicken & tortilla salad. I can't say I've ever had a bad meal here. Most of the time I pick up at the drive through and they always get my order right. This is a huge deal for me as I find nothing more irritating than missing items or wrong items. I've dined in add well and the place is always clean, service is fast, staff is polite & the bathrooms are clean. I think they are slightly pricy, but for getting all the above right on, its worth it.
(5)Brian V.
Great food. Dry rub wings are amazing if you get them fresh. Don't go on an off hour after lunch or they will just reheat old food. Ribs are good and sides are solid. Great mac and cheese. That being said, very over priced. Every time I get lunch its $14-16 for wings with sides and drink.
(3)Derek G.
We went there for lunch on Super Bowl Sunday, and were impressed by the food, the friendliness of the staff, and of course, the quality of the food. I strongly suggest you give them a try. The owners have clearly gone out of their way to put forth an authentic barbeque experience, and it shows. I will definitely go there again.
(5)Deanna C.
My husband and I decided to visit Smokin' T's after work on a nasty, rainy evening and really didn't know what to expect. Wow! So happy to have found Smokin' T's! It's the closest thing to a Carolina BBQ you'll find this far north! The ribs are to-die-for with 4 different sauces to choose from. The sides are HUGE, so bring your appetite. The baked beans are SOOO homemade as is the classic coleslaw. I also tried the corn pudding...and heaped blessings upon the cook for creating such a tasty dish. The atmosphere is very casual and they have a drive-up and catering truck, so tell your friends!
(4)Ali R.
My favorite items here are the sides! Some of the best bbq sides I've had. Mac and Cheese is always simple and divine. Baked beans are filled with ingredients, and of course, the corn pudding. I love how they have chicken wings as a side too! The bbq is good for the north suburbs. My husband and I always share a 2 or 3 meat platter which leaves us stuffed at the end of our meal. I'd recommend the pulled pork, brisket, and ribs! However, all the bbq is fresh and you really can't go wrong with any option. I give them 3.5 stars for the food. Catering gets 5 stars! It's always my go-to place when I'm having a small party. Most of their party packages comes with chips, buns, pickles, and utensils (plates, napkins, and wipes) are all included! Truly, a no-fuss catering option at very reasonable prices!
(4)Stacy K.
Bummed. I had always been a fan of Smokin' T's - raved about it to my friends, ordered catering from them for parties, and making sure to visit their truck at our weekly Farmer's Market for the pulled pork nachos. I have converted many of my friends, as well. So when one of my friends suggested we meet at the restaurant for lunch, I was all over it... until I got there. It was a weekday a little before noon, and there were two groups at tables inside, one group seated outside, and two people in line. After we perused the menu - we waited to order at the walk up counter. My friend was first, and then the cashier left and walked back into the kitchen... I waited, and waited - finally he returned and took my order $13 and change for the Amish Pulled Chicken, a side of Mac & Cheese, and a soda. When the order was called, I went to pick it up and inquired about the other sandwich that was on the counter thinking since she ordered it before me it was for my friend. I was rudely answered by the expediter "Keep your reciept and check your numbers!" Granted, I know that, so thank you Capt. Obvious, but I thought maybe we'd missed it, and asked to clarify - she continued calling numbers, but knew most people's names, which led me to believe that there were regulars with established prescences - a little clique-y. Yuck. Once we got our food straightened out we ate. My chicken was okay, the mac & cheese was not seasoned, completely over cooked as in mushy, and soggy. Not the baked in creamy goodness one would think of at a BBQ joint. My friend had the slider sampler, nothing particularly special - sort of over-priced, for the lack of sides & three pickles it came with. She asked about their Alabama White Sauce, as she wanted to purchase some, and was told it was 'in the refrigerator'. Great - so is it for sale, not ready yet and where is the refrigerator? How can the food & service from the Smokin' T's truck at the Farmer's Market be better than the restaurant? All in all, the prices, the attitude and clique-iness will keep my business from the restaurant. What happened Smokin' T's?
(2)Dan P.
Corn Pudding. Ever have it? The corn pudding gets the stars all by itself. The beef rib brisket is outstanding, perfect pink smoke ring and delicious. The pork is very good with nice bark. The sides will have you convinced that you're in the South despite the snow that may be outside. Small eating area, get there early. Now let's talk sauces. You can get the regular sweet tangy which has a nice taste, the hot, which isn't too hot, but has loads of flavor, the white BBQ sauce which is outstanding on chicken, and My favorite, the Eastern Carolina, a vinegar/mustard based bit of joy. Not cheap, but not all that out of line for really good food.
(5)E S.
This place is good, but I don't know what bad bbq is. It is pricier than other bbq joints like Real Urban BBQ, so if I were to compare the 2, it tastes the same, but Real Urban is cheaper. I do enjoy their mac n cheese tho!
(4)Jeanne H.
I've heard so many great things about Smokin T's so decided to meet a friend there for lunch. When you walk in, you place your order and they bring the food to your table. I had high hopes but was not impressed with the food at all. I ordered a BBQ chicken sandwich and a drink, it was $12 and it doesn't include a side item, a bit pricey! The small sandwich came on a large plate with 2 pickles and no sauce. I expected it to be cooked in the BBQ sauce. There is a choice of sauces at the table but it's cold and not as tasty as being cooking in the sauce. With prices high and portions small, I will not return.
(2)Jeff S.
Spotted this place on accident while driving by and decided to try on a whim. Really good authentic BBQ with a few twists (BBQ Burrito special!) Not as good as Smoque (what is?) better I liked much better than the Texan BBQ in my area. Will definitely go back when out in that direction again. This place is kind of out in the middle of nowhere though. The various sauces on the table were all unique and good in their own ways. And regarding the price I didn't find it any more expensive than any other BBQ place. It's not McDonald's food so not sure why the various dings for cost in the past reviews.
(4)Denise K.
I went here instead of Texan BBQ because of the ratings. I was really disappointed. The place was very clean and I wnated one of their tables for mt DR table, but the food was just ok. The meat is not cooked in any sauce, so it only retains the flavor of what you put on it. There were rav reviews about the baked beans, and the portion was veryt generous, but not all that flavorful. The corn soup was ok. Somehow I was expecting more of a creamed chowder than a brothy corn soup. I had the brisket platter. It was fine but nothing to write home about. Its a long drive for me from Chicago, so I won't be going back.
(2)Joe B.
Every time I drive by Smokin' T's I say, "I'll have to try that some time". I'm glad I finally got it out of the way. My experience was very similar to Andrew S'. below. Two sandwiches, two sides, and two drinks for $25? More like too much... I gave it two stars because the sliced black angus beef short rib sandwich was actually good. If it were free, I'd eat it in a heart beat. Unfortunately that's about the only positive that came from the meal. The pulled pork was dry, and though their BBQ sauces were pretty tasty, I believe really good bar-b-que shouldn't need sauce. The fries were fries, and while the baked beans were pretty good, I'd prefer they offered a slightly smaller portion for less money. Nobody needs a full bowl of baked beans... nobody. Overall, the food was hit or miss, the soda from the soda machine was flat, and the prices were unnecessarily high. I understand bbq isn't a cheap meal, but if I'm paying that kind of money, it had better taste like Pappy's Smokehouse (the only good thing to come out of St. Louis...)
(2)Andrew S.
My wife and I stumbled on this place recently. We each ordered the slider sampler, which is a little bbq brisket sandwich, a pulled chicken sandwich and a pulled pork sandwich. It came served with a little pile of pickles. We each ordered the slider entree with fries and a soda and the bill for two people came to over $30. I think that is outrageously high for the little amount of food we got. The BBQ was disappointingly dry. The pulled chicken was just okay, but also fairly dry. The winner among the slider choices was the pulled pork, but that is like hitting the most home runs in the minors. The fries were good, but just fries...nothing special. Frankly, I cannot believe the positive reviews I have been reading. Perhaps we were there on an off day. Perhaps we ordered the worst choice on the menu. Either way, I thought the food was unremarkable and the price sky high. Try it for yourself if you must, but, if you do, bring lots of cash.
(2)E S.
We tried the pulled pork sandwich, the boneless short rib sandwich, and the baked beans. The baked beans were unconventional, but we still liked them. The short rib sandwich was better than the pulled pork sandwich. The pulled pork sandwich was a bit dry. The short rib sandwich was a bit fatty, but most people probably like it that way. If you get an adult entree with a side, you can get a kid-sized slider + soft drink + fruit bowl or chips for 25 cents.
(4)Boston L.
Outstanding food. Great service. New renovated dining area. The Mac and cheese was creamy and perfect. The ribs were just awesome. The cole slaw was perfectly seasoned. I will definitely be coming back soon!
(5)Dave Y.
This place is officially on my stop circuit for a quick delicious meal. Everything I've tried so far has tasted like it's been made with dedication to the craft. The brisket is outstanding with the telltale smoke ring and is my favorite loaded on their fresh baked buns. With nothing other than maybe a little sauce on top, this is the perfect sandwich. The sides are all noticeably homemade and the salad dressings are excellent...try the champange dijon vinagrette (yes, at a bbq joint).
(4)Michael F.
Smokin' T's is my favorite BBQ joint in Illinois. I have been coming for a few years now and absolute love everything on the menu. My favorite is the dry rub wings with your choice of sauce at the table. The recent addition gives Smokin' T's a totally different feel and I like it. I use to work in the area and I would always bring clients for a low key good lunch.
(4)Rachel C.
I had such a ridiculous craving for BBQ for some strange reason... which was extremely strange as I'm usually not a fan. I saw Smokin' T's ad in the Edge magazine along with some coupons so we headed out. The food was pretty good. I loved the BBQ sauce!! It was super yummy. Their pulled pork sandwich was good, and the corn pudding was SOOO delicious. I wasn't crazy about the baked beans as I was expecting the typical "sweet" baked beans --- these almost tasted like chili? The Mac N Cheese was ok... kind of bland. All in all it was pretty good. Will I eat here again? Sure... but I'm not in a huge hurry to get back.
(4)Eco R.
This is the best place...............we can't get enough of it!
(5)Howard C.
Pretty happy with this find. It's a relatively quick drive (10 min or so). I had the short rib sandwich and Sandy had pulled chicken, sides were cornbread muffin, mac n cheese and baked beans. Short rib sandwich was very good. Smothered it in their sweet bbq sauce and it was excellent. The baked beans were really good with chunks of all kinds of good stuff. Definitely on the thicker side. The cornbread was delicious as well with chunks of corn and what I believe we jalapenos, but not spicy. Mac n cheese was tasty as well. Not overwhelming and not the kind with breadcrumb crumbles on the top, but a nice blend of cheeses I thought. The side portions were nice and good enough for at least 2 people. You could stretch it to 3 if looking to save a little. It was $25 for all that including tax. The also had a nice drive-up window that allowed me to not have to get out of the car while it was raining. Make sure you ask for extra bbq sauce or you'll be pissed, just as a reminder. The area driving there was also very nice and a peaceful little drive. Very quaint little plaza that is mismapped on google. It is just past Old McHenry off 22 in the shopping center on the corner. Definitely hit it up if you are in the area and Enjoy!
(4)Sean M.
Very good food, great for a family.
(4)Marie F.
If you judge barbecue mainly by the sauce, you can probably stop reading now; if you're a true barbecue fan, then Smokin' T's is the place for you! That's not to say their sauces aren't excellent - they are - but in my book, great barbecue doesn't need ANY sauce, and Smokin' T's fits that bill. The pulled pork is moist, smokey, and delicious. I tried all four sauces, and like the North Carolina vinegar style the best, followed by the traditional Kansas City style (sweet red). They also make good creamy coleslaw with just a hint of kick. I've lived in Chicago, or the Chicago suburbs, for most of my life, and finding really good barbecue here is very difficult. Most places will parboil some ribs or braise a pork shoulder and pass that off as barbecue. Don't be fooled! It may fall off the bone, but it won't taste nearly as good as real, smoked barbecue. Smokin' T's does it right, and it shows in the flavor of their meat. As someone else commented, it's about as close to real Carolina barbecue as you can get in IL. The interior ambiance (I dined in early March) was appropriate for a barbecue joint: clean and contemporary, but simple. It was a little pricey - $12 for a sandwich, side, and a pop - but until the supply of great barbecue catches up with my demand, I say it's worth it. Follow-up: After posting my review I read some of the others here, especially the 1 and 2-star reviews. Many mentioned the meat as "dry". I heartily disagree. As I hinted above, if you're happy with the Chicago standard of drippy, sauce-drenched barbecue, this might not be the place for you. But if you need a taste of the South, or don't know what that means and want to find out, then stop on in!
(5)Dave C.
Smokin's T's is awesome stuff. We've served it at a couple of social gatherings, and the consenus was that it is the best BBQ most have had in the state. Smokin T's "standard" sauce is just about perfect. Well worth trying. (Incidentally, the location map accompanying this listsing is not accurate. Smokin T's is in the small commercial complex at the NW corner of Hwy 22 and Old McHenry Rd.)
(5)TJ N.
Weird set up, drive thru? We walked in and were greeted by two 12 year old girls. We said we needed one moment to order. We were ready shortly thereafter. One 12 year old was in the back prepping while the other was on the phone taking an order for 9 minutes without even saying one word to us. I observed behind 12 year old on the phone was 14 year old boy who also didn't want to help us with our order. We drove from AH to the middle of no where for this waste of time. This is the first time I've ever experienced such HORRIBLE customer service. Once it reached 10 minutes we walked out of the door without even ordering what a waste. I called back 15 minutes after we left to speak to manager, 12 year old # 1 said hang on please. She put 12 year old # 2 on the phone, I asked if this was a manager she said no, the manager won't be back till late late tonight. Who the hell runs a business like this? Don't bother if they cannot take care of a customer right in front of them willing to give them there hard earned money who really cares about the rest of there absurd concepts.
(1)Dave H.
Awesome food! Great bands on the weekends.
(5)Jonathan C.
Taken from a friend at work: This new BBQ place called Smokin T's opened in Long Grove a couple months ago and we went there on Monday and then again on Saturday. Really good sandwiches--Anthony hasn't tried the ribs yet. He keeps raving about the beans they have--a mixed medley with bbq meat added to it.
(4)Lisa G.
This place is a real find in Long Grove! Excellent ribs, the half rack is more than I could ever finish. Delicious corn pudding, lots of tasty sauces, expanding shortly to accommodate groups. I'll definitely be back.
(5)Sean Y.
For being in the middle of nowhere there were many customers. The brisket and wings are really good. The sides are huge! They even have a drive through window for take out orders which is very convenient!
(4)E H.
This place gives good value for money. The entree size is enourmous. As a celiac I am glad to find it is gluten free. The staff is knowledgable and polite. Good to know of a fast infromal food place that can be gluten free and safe. They even gave me the sauce in a to go container to avoid risk of cross contamination. Wonderful experience. Will be back again.
(4)Ed F.
Disappointed to say the least. Brisket was tough and fatty. The pork was just OK. The prices are high. $9.95 for a brisket sandwich with 2 slices of pickle. Staff not very friendly.
(1)Michael H.
Wow! This place is terrific. The meats are all wonderful. I have tried the pork, chicken, and beef and they are very tasty. The sauces at the table allow you to make it your own. They recently expanded the restaurant and it was very enjoyable to sit with the kids and eat dinner. The $0.25 kids meals was also a huge plus. Give this place a try. You will love it!
(5)Damian S.
I rarely get a hankering for ribs, as they're usually too messy, and, like wings, always seem like too much work for too little food. However, I had a desire for ribs today...must be all the burning leaves leaving a smoky idea in my head. I'd noticed Smokin' T's awhile ago, and decided to give it a try, hoping for an excellent place for ribs near my home. I ordered the full slab of St. Louis ribs, mac and cheese, dry rubbed wings, and the chicken corn soup. I thought that would be enough variety for a taste of the restaurant, and provide enough tasty leftovers for work. I started with the soup, which was not very flavorful at all. It was full of corn, and many, many almost overly-large pieces of chicken. Maybe it'll be better as a leftover. Next, I went to half of the wings, which were not as spicy or overwhelming as some traditional wings, but had a great flavor that took some time to tickle my taste buds. They're not your typical wings dripping sauce and burning your mouth for no reason at all--they have flavor, and are very different. I recommend the wings for a tasty difference. Next came the ribs. I'd been anticipating them for nearly an hour, which might have been part of the problem. The ribs were very juicy, and close to fall off the bone (but not so close that they fell apart on the way home). They were cooked just right, the problem was, they were not flavorful at all. They hadn't absorbed any of the barbeque sauce's flavor, and the sauce that was on top wasn't too flavorful either. If they could fix the problem of flavor their ribs would be very decent. Last thing to try was the mac and cheese...this was very close to homemade, with possible white cheddar as the base cheese. Not as flavorful as some, but not as bad as another reviewer made it out to be. Unless I read that Smokin' T's has fixed their flavor problems with ribs, I don't think I'll be going back for my infrequent rib wants. The dry rubbed wings are good enough to revisit, and I might try a sandwich next time. Even though I carried out this time, the inside was nice, clean, and cozy, and could be enjoyed by small groups (it's not really big enough inside for a large group of people--about a dozen tables for 4).
(2)P R.
I had passed this place on my rare travels in that part of the 'burbs and finally had opportunity to try it out this weekend. The atmosphere for a take-out place is nice - home-y country feel, clean. The service was quite friendly and efficient. Nice choice of bbq - angus beef short rib, ribs, chicken, pulled pork. I didn't try the chili but it sounded very good - combo of pulled pork and the short rib. Therre is a also a good choice of sides and you can have your meal as a sandwich, a combo platter or there are salad options too. I ordered a beef short rib sandwich with the corn pudding and a drink - total was just over $16. I would not have had a problem with this price if the portions were larger. The sandwich was very tasty and I enjoyed the various sauces on the table - I used a combination of the N.C. vinegar sauce with the spicy BBQ. But for $10 - there really should have either been more meat in the sandwich or it should include one side. The corn pudding was delicious but miniscule for a $3 side. The platters, which include sides, are all over $17. This is likely the best bbq in the burbs but the location is remote and due to the price I won't be making any trips out of my way for it.
(3)Scott H.
A really solid barbecue place far out in the NW suburbs. After three visits, I honestly think this place could definitely hold its own alongside Chicago's 'cue joints. The pulled pork and beef brisket have always been moist with the perfect (but not overwhelming) lingering smoke. Four house-made sauces cover the gamut from sweet to spicy and from tomatoey to mustardy to vinegary. The brisket chili is a mainstay and I enjoy a bowl with each visit. I love how they have old timey tins of fresh-brewed iced tea (and sweet tea) along with fresh lemonade. Nothing better with mid-day barbecue than a handmade Arnold Palmer or two. Just a touch on the pricey side (most good barbecue is a little pricey anywhere), but right at home in the upper-class bucolic suburb of Long Grove. This place always seems as spotless as the day they opened too. I'll return again and again.
(4)Kiera D.
This place used to be so great! I don't know what happened! It's not very good, now. Bummer :(
(2)Ellie S.
Awful! Horrible BBQ, too expensive, unfriendly staff and dirty restaurant. I had the pulled pork sandwich. It was awful. For good BBQ better off checking out brothers ribs in mundelein.
(1)Marilyn S.
For those who think this is "pricey." We featured five sandwiches and then froze two eight ounce packages of pulled pork for future lunches. When you break it down, pretty fair price for nine sandwiches!!
(5)Hank A.
Wow, what a great bbq find in the burbs. I absolutely love bbq and I am so happy I stumbled onto this place. A humble little joint that packs a punch. Menu has the standard bbq fixings: pulled pork, brisket, st louis rib, memphis chicken. And they have 2,3,4 meat combos, allowing you to mix and match items. All reasonably priced. We ordered the 3 meat combo: portion of pulled pork that had a very nice smoky flavor, tender fatty brisket and then ... there was the st louis half slab... I was in food heaven as I'm peeling the meat off the bone with no effort. Perfect smoked flavor and the meat just fell off (the bone was clean of any meat). These ribs are in my top 3 rib experiences in the US for sure. No sauce needed. The side of coleslaw and baked beans were a great addition to an already great meal. If you're a fan of bbq, EAT HERE!
(5)Bob F.
when i got there i asked for a sample of the beef. they would not do it.they do not use brisket but something else. i ordered it anyway and was delivered an uneatable sandwich of fat and gristle.this sandwich was $10.50 with no sides.would not go back there and would certainly not recomend to anyone.
(1)Barry B.
Have been here a few times and am pleased with the food and sauces each time. Get the 3 meat combo for two, if you are with someone else. We get the ribs dry and experiment with the various sauces, dark meat chicken and pulled pork. The beans are a must for side dish and try the sauce they give you. Atmosphere was a big surprise, very nice and comfortable. Service is quick. Not anything like this in the area. Glad I found it.
(4)Randall R.
Food is good. Service borders on offensive. The young lady at the drive through was down right nasty. A smile or thank you for the $40 of carry out would not kill her.
(2)Tony W.
I love Smokin' T's - their chicken sandwiches are great. I know - chicken at a BBQ place? Well everything they make has a great wood smoke flavor and it really comes out in the chicken - plus their white Alabama sauce is awesome with it. Their Chili is highly recommended - it's basically a meal as it has the beans, and a lot of pulled pork bits. Their chicken dumpling soup (not sure what it's called) is also pretty good, and everything in the place is homemade except the fries. All of the meats are good, and it has a nice wood smoke flavor throughout all of the meats - that's the difference between this and a lot of other places in the area. I've been going here since they opened and it's consistently good - currently not open on Mondays though FYI. I might have given them a 4.5 but seeing how it's a small local place I'll round up.
(5)Ken J.
Love the Amish chicken. Great smokey flavor and you choose the sauce. Alabama white sauce is great fro the sandwich on an egg roll. Salad ddressings are homemade and awesome. Enjoy their chili in season, all the fixins come with it. Not a fan of their beef, can get better. Great BBQ and not much competition in the area. In my eyes better than famous Dave's, they have great smoke flavor vs killing it with sauce.
(4)Alex G.
Stopped by on a Saturday afternoon around 5. This is a carryout and drive through restaurant with about 8 tables inside. One other table was occupied when we arrived. Great smoke smell inside the restaurant. I chose the short rib sandwich which is their version of brisket, gf chose the slider sampler (pork, short rib, and chicken) on the recommendation of the order taker, and her dad chose the short rib. We also got the chili, beans, and fries. We all agreed that the short ribs lacked any flavor and I thought had too much grissle. Now sometimes a good barbeque sauce can save an otherwise disappointing meat (and vice versa) but, sadly, that was not the case here. The original and spicy sauces just didn't work for me. The order taker recommended the mustard sauce for the short ribs. While the sauce was pretty good, it just didn't compliment the meat very well. The beans, although a side portion, were served in a soup bowl and could have served all three of us. A little dry for my taste. The chili got good reviews. The fries were nothing special. On the plus side, when asked what her favorite was, the order taker said 'the chicken'. My gf agreed that out of the three sliders, the chicken was the best. She also said the cream sauce served with the chicken was very good. The prices were a little high for a carryout restaurant so overall we left disappointed.
(2)Brad F.
My mom ordered some take out from here when I was staying at home for the night, and I thought it was pretty good. She got me chicken, ribs, and mac and cheese, and the biscuits were awesome too. I really enjoyed my meal here, i had it cold, but I bet it is even better warm at the restaurant
(4)Michael P.
By far the best BBQ in the area. Never been disappointed with the Carolina style i've eaten here. Great sized portions. Seating can be tough if it's during the lunch rush. Recommend the "Que" and Chili lunch special, served chef style.
(5)Matt L.
Not the best BBQ I've ever had (I recently ate my way through Memphis, Nashville and Texas), but certainly better than anything you'll find in the suburbs. Pulled pork is exceptional and their sauces can compete with the big boys. Love the corn bread muffins. The sides leave much to be desired, but man oh man, where else are you gonna find pork this tender and falling off the bone in Lake County? Only place I've tried in Chicagoland the even comes close is Smoque, but seeing how this is only 10 minutes from my home (and they have a drive up window!) Smokin' T's is my new favorite BBQ! Good work guys! The Family Quart size (a HUGE container of your choice of meat plus 12 mini sandwich rolls) is definitely a good deal. My fam and I ate all 12 sammies and have a LOT leftover for the next day. Cheers!
(4)Genevieve S.
Hands down the best BBQ in Northern Illinois. We ate the brisket, the mac & cheese, the pulled pork, the corn pudding, the cornbread muffins, and even the gooey butter cake. All dishes reigned superior to all BBQ joints in the area. This is a hidden gem of a place!
(5)Dean K.
While I am not a huge BBQ fan. I really enjoy this place. I really like the beans as they are totally unique. I also happen to love the dry rub wings and could probably live off of them. We usually get a multi meat platter and then split it. The Ribs have a nice flavor and are usually cooked just right.
(4)Holly F.
Horrible, horrible, horrible. We went here because my husband's boss recommended it, and based on others reviews, we thought it looked good. The meat was so dry, ugh, they only thing that was good was the sauce. My husband had to use a steak knife on the ribs, he actually throw out half the slab it was so dry. I had the slider sampler, the pulled pork and chicken was extremely dry, again, the sauce helped, but I wouldn't go here again.
(1)Vince V.
This is a regular lunch stop for me. The place is very clean for a BBQ joint; I swear it feels like you walked into a bank or something. While I have tried their chicken and beef short ribs, the perpetually on the specials menu pulled pork sandwich with soup (I always get the chili) hits the spot every time. The pulled pork needs a good swig of sauce to get it just right; I do a combination of 50/50 North Carolina vinegar and Memphis mustard. I had a smoked corned beef sandwich last St. Patrick's day that was phenomenal, but unfortunately that isn't a regular menu item. The chef will occasionally put out special items (they had a turkey in mole sauce last May). BBQ purists may find the pork a little tame, I admit it could use a bit more punch before sauce is needed. And it would've been nice if they served beer but they don't. All things considered though, in the BBQ desert that I find myself in, this place is a welcome oasis.
(4)Joe G.
Great BBQ place with good service! The food here is delicious and I love grabbing lunch here whenever possible. The barbecue sauce is what usually makes a place like this and all of their sauces are tasty. Dont forget to get the mac and cheese...
(5)