Blue Smoke

Excellent Sunday night 12-29-13 with live jazz from Carmen mundy and full dinner from blue smoke menu. Jule had the rib sampler. more

then Blue Smoke is the place for you. After reading mixed reviews and visiting their very well maintained and appetizing website, I decided to try the place out for myself. Although my party was seated right away, the service was quite speedy, and the employees were fairly respectable, the food can only be described as putrid. My friend and I ordered ribs for two which included Memphis Baby Backs, Kansas City Spareribs, and Texas Beef Ribs along with Mac and Cheese on the side. The food came within minutes and looked very appealing, causing my mouth to water instantly. I began with the Mac and Cheese, having very high hopes. However, after shifting the top layer of golden melted cheddar, what laid beneath seemed to be a smear of dairy diluted by a gallon of hot water. Instead of Macaroni and Cheese, it should have been called, Macaroni con Agua. After biting into the dry, rough, and bland meat of the ribs, my friend and I were taken further down the path of disappointment. Forget about fall of the bone, melt in your mouth, the texture was so dreadful, I felt as if I was chewing on rubber. By the end of the meal, my jaw felt sore from all the rigorous exercise that I had put it through. It is a good thing I had ordered something to drink or the mountain of salt used to preserve this ancient slab of meat would have caused severe dehydration. At least now I know why they put so many different sauces on the table; to compensate for the lack of taste of their food. Maybe the service is so fast because everything has been sitting there since the place opened years ago. Giving this restaurant more than a star would be a crime against taste buds everywhere! more

then Blue Smoke is the place for you. After reading mixed reviews and visiting their very well maintained and appetizing website, I decided to try the place out for myself. Although my party was seated right away, the service was quite speedy, and the employees were fairly respectable, the food can only be described as putrid. My friend and I ordered ribs for two which included Memphis Baby Backs, Kansas City Spareribs, and Texas Beef Ribs along with Mac and Cheese on the side. The food came within minutes and looked very appealing, causing my mouth to water instantly. I began with the Mac and Cheese, having very high hopes. However, after shifting the top layer of golden melted cheddar, what laid beneath seemed to be a smear of dairy diluted by a gallon of hot water. Instead of Macaroni and Cheese, it should have been called, Macaroni con Agua. After biting into the dry, rough, and bland meat of the ribs, my friend and I were taken further down the path of disappointment. Forget about fall of the bone, melt in your mouth, the texture was so dreadful, I felt as if I was chewing on rubber. By the end of the meal, my jaw felt sore from all the rigorous exercise that I had put it through. It is a good thing I had ordered something to drink or the mountain of salt used to preserve this ancient slab of meat would have caused severe dehydration. At least now I know why they put so many different sauces on the table; to compensate for the lack of taste of their food. Maybe the service is so fast because everything has been sitting there since the place opened years ago. Giving this restaurant more than a star would be a crime against taste buds everywhere! more

at least once a month I stop bye Blue Smoke for 1 1/2 racks of their Texas Style Beef Ribs , I call for pick-up when I leave the gym on my walk home that gives me a reason to drink a beer at the bar as I continue on my walk I have the pleasure of walking as I smell the ribs in the bag. My wife loves the ribs as well as myself and our Bulldog Bull.After all of us polish off the ribs my wife freezes the bones for Bull for days to come. more

at least once a month I stop bye Blue Smoke for 1 1/2 racks of their Texas Style Beef Ribs , I call for pick-up when I leave the gym on my walk home that gives me a reason to drink a beer at the bar as I continue on my walk I have the pleasure of walking as I smell the ribs in the bag. My wife loves the ribs as well as myself and our Bulldog Bull.After all of us polish off the ribs my wife freezes the bones for Bull for days to come. more

The food was generic and the atmosphere was average. The waiter was so out of it, it was entertaining. Nonetheless, I have no idea why anyone would go here when you can walk a few blocks over to Hill Country or hop on a train uptown to Dinosaur. Outside of Blue Smoke's Bourbon selection, the answer is beyond me. more

I went here recently with my family for my birthday and was not at all disappointed. My sister did the restaurant week special - the chicken wings were awesome, the BBQ sauce was so unique. And their mashed potatoes were deadly, not to mention the pulled pork, which had I died that moment I would have felt my life was complete. The desserts were far less exciting, but you don't go to a place like this for dessert. The staff was friendly (especially the bartenders while we waited for a table) and everything came out promptly despite how packed it was. I would go back here in a heartbeat! more

Despite all the state of the art high-tech barbeque grills,smokers and other pit masters essentials that are present in kitchen, the Blue Smoke burger was sadly disappointing. Hopefully Mr. Meyer and Chef Callaghan have targeted their talent here more toward their BBQ, because their burger skills were lacking this day. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the extensive menu and live jazz music which makes Blue Smoke a fun and entertaining pig-out spot. Try the ribs, brisket and home-style desserts and maybe leave the burgers for some of Mr. Meyers other restaurants! more

I always have a great time at Blue Smoke but this time seemed even better. The night I was there proved how much of a difference great service can make to a meal. We had an awesome server who made perfect suggestions and took great care of our table. The manager came over and asked how our meal was and then handed his card out and said if we needed anything to reach out. It was impeccable service in addition to an amazing dinner. We started with hush puppies which have an accompanying sauce that has a bit of a kick. We split the salmon, chicken and pulled pork alongside some mac and cheese. Oddly enough, for being a BBQ place, I'm not a huge fan of their ribs, but their other items more than make up for it. Their wings are seasoned to perfection and their mac and cheese is so rich and delicious. For dessert we had this bread pudding that had bits of bacon in it which sent us into a salty sweet food coma. Had a great night here! Pros: food, service Cons: ribs more

I always have a great time at Blue Smoke but this time seemed even better. The night I was there proved how much of a difference great service can make to a meal. We had an awesome server who made perfect suggestions and took great care of our table. The manager came over and asked how our meal was and then handed his card out and said if we needed anything to reach out. It was impeccable service in addition to an amazing dinner. We started with hush puppies which have an accompanying sauce that has a bit of a kick. We split the salmon, chicken and pulled pork alongside some mac and cheese. Oddly enough, for being a BBQ place, I'm not a huge fan of their ribs, but their other items more than make up for it. Their wings are seasoned to perfection and their mac and cheese is so rich and delicious. For dessert we had this bread pudding that had bits of bacon in it which sent us into a salty sweet food coma. Had a great night here! Pros: food, service Cons: ribs more

Had a magnificent lunch at Blue Smoke - as expected from any Danny Meyers' restaurant - shrimp corn dogs are to die for, pulled pork - great. If I wasn't in a business suit, would have gone for ribs but maybe next time. Top notch, as always! more

I've been to Blue Smoke a handful of times since it opened and the ribs are definitely well above average for NYC. It's in the same league as the other popular city BBQ places...Dinosaur, RUB, Hill Country and probably better than Brother Jimmy's. The decor and atmosphere is a little unusual for a ""rib joint"" being a tad upscale but that has nothing to do with the food. Service is good as well as the bar but the quality of the food seems inconsistent. One night the food is great and another afternoon, it seemed leftover and dry. When it's good it's very good and when it's bad, it's not worth it and definitely over-priced. I even tried some of their ribs at a Mets game at Citi Field and was quite surprised at how good it was considering I was at a baseball game. For New York City, it's still well above average BBQ and worth a try...but if you're from Texas, Kansas City, Memphis or Carolina, you may be disappointed. Pros: Decor, jazz music, bar, ribs Cons: Not consistent, upscale rib joint? more

I've been to Blue Smoke a handful of times since it opened and the ribs are definitely well above average for NYC. It's in the same league as the other popular city BBQ places...Dinosaur, RUB, Hill Country and probably better than Brother Jimmy's. The decor and atmosphere is a little unusual for a "rib joint" being a tad upscale but that has nothing to do with the food. Service is good as well as the bar but the quality of the food seems inconsistent. One night the food is great and another afternoon, it seemed leftover and dry. When it's good it's very good and when it's bad, it's not worth it and definitely over-priced. I even tried some of their ribs at a Mets game at Citi Field and was quite surprised at how good it was considering I was at a baseball game. For New York City, it's still well above average BBQ and worth a try...but if you're from Texas, Kansas City, Memphis or Carolina, you may be disappointed. Pros: Decor, jazz music, bar, ribs Cons: Not consistent, upscale rib joint? more

DMANBURGER ?Blue Smoke? Pros: Great ribs, BBQ !! Cons: burger little dry... more

Manhattan should be embarrassed that this place is doing well. Give it some time and the joy will be gone. The food took forever to get to us, it was cold and we didn't even get our one side dish that we ordered. I would only go back for appetizers and drinks...OK maybe Grandpas Ice cream soda. These were the things that were good. more

DMANBURGER “Blue Smoke” February 14, 2010 Ever since I started writing about burgers, people have harped on me to try Danny Meyer’s contribution to the burger world. I doggedly avoided patronizing the obvious invention of Shake Shack, opting not to anguish in long lines and potentially overrated smash burgers. Today I decided to sample his other beef emporium, Blue Smoke.This mouthwatering St.Louis natives BBQ joint features signature “cue” favorites such as ribs,beef,fowl, southern vegetable sides,mac and cheese and home-style desserts and pies. Their Blue Smoke burgers are on the list as a must try on many restaurant critics lips and today was my privilege to give Chef Kenny Callaghan and the genius restaurateur Danny Meyer’s creation a shot to see what the boys have learnt. As I followed the manager to my table, I admired the factory/abattoir chic decor, surrounded by red-hot oversized booths, steel and concrete fixings and large close-up photos of pickles, potato, and various other historic nostalgia. The bar was a giant man perch, perfect for sampling the many home brews, while watching sports and gnawing on pork and beef treats. My table was in the back of a lively dining room in which the sound of jazz, jovial conversation and rib bones clanking in galvanized tins provided as makeshift BBQ spittoons filled the room. I ordered my Blue Smoke burger medium with good old American cheddar cheese and maple-cured bacon. The patty was a ground sirloin and arrived on a freshly toasted homemade brioche bun. After fixing an annoying wobbly table with a stack of coasters, my waiter proceeded to execute the story of the creation of my anticipated beef pleasure. He explained that my burger would be seasoned and char grilled with a secret mix of herbs neatly packaged and labeled “Magic Dust”. Although the name scarily reminded me of the other less legal kind of dust, I was confident that I was safe and secure with his description! After a short while my burger arrived with a mountainous portion of crispy French Fries and fresh lettuce and tomato. The taste of the burger was flavorful but, unfortunately was overcooked and left a dry aftertaste following a few bites. The bun was an excellent complement to the burger with its firmness and texture. Despite all the state of the art high-tech barbeque grills,smokers and other pit masters essentials that are present in kitchen, the Blue Smoke burger was sadly disappointing. Hopefully Mr. Meyer and Chef Callaghan have targeted their talent here more toward their BBQ, because their burger skills were lacking this day. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the extensive menu and live jazz music which makes Blue Smoke a fun and entertaining pig-out spot. Try the ribs, brisket and home-style desserts and maybe leave the burgers for some of Mr. Meyers other restaurants! Pros: Great ribs, BBQ !! Cons: burger little dry... more

My boyfriend and I were craving some nice juicy burgers and blue smoke was on the rating for best burgers. We decided to go there for dinner and the place was splendid. From beginning to end, the customer service was attentive, friendly and charming. The chipotle chicken wings were okay, nothing spectacular. The burger itself had a toasted bun and really full meaty burger. The french fries came out super hot and tasty. The portions were generous but overall nothing I would go more than once. more

Not cheap, but the $23 "rhapsody in 'cue" was a huge plate of food. Bonus points for the name. Long wait on... more

Not cheap, but the $23 "rhapsody in 'cue" was a huge plate of food. Bonus points for the name. Long wait on a Saturday night with somewhat hectic... more

I went there on my Birthday after great reviews from a past experience. The Jazz band had already almost finished the set my BF did not do the best planning. So we decided to go upstairs to eat. The staff was not welcoming at all yes the place was packed but they all had this mum look on thier faces? We go sat at a table so small we could not fit all the food on the table, there was a mosquito under the table biting me up. And I ordered the so called 12 marinated chicken dry and boring as hell. His Salmon was alright but the squash was squishy. Our waitor was just average and not at all friendly just basically doing his job. I thought the food was going to be at least like this chain called Red Rock but not even close. Get a clue, I would go back with family on a more laid back vibe. more