Smoke Barbeque & Grill Review

Several years ago, there was a auto detail show on the corner of South Boulevard and Platt Street.  Most importantly, Mr. Klean served some REALLY good barbecue.  I remember getting pulled pork or ribs with a potato salad and collard greens.  OH MY GOODNESS!!

Anyhow, the property owner raised the rent so high that Mr. Klean had to relocate to Columbus Drive (and then went out of business) and my lunchtime barbecue options were diminished by one.

After a couple of different businesses in the same location, Smoke Barbeque & Grill has taken over and thank goodness it has.  Several Tampa restaurateurs and chefs have combined their talents to create a contemporary barbeque destination.  Perfect for the trendy South Tampa and downtown BBQ patrons.

Make no mistake – this is not your stop on the side of the road barbecue with a large, heavy-set man sweating over a  portable pit smoker.  This is barbecue done by a chef who has a wide range of influences.  From the Hawaiian-style huli huli chicken to Asian and European influences with the Passion Pepper Salmon.

Naturally, I am partial to the barbecue of the south so DeeDee and I decided (on a couple of occasions) to split a Combination Platter which included the Huli Huli Chicken, the pulled pork, and the pork ribs.  For side items, I recommend the macaroni and cheese with green pepper salsa.  Trust me and try the mac & cheese – you’ll thank me later.  We also split the sauteed green beans.  Delicious.

All the food was really uniquely tasty.  The chicken with grilled pineapple is excellent.  I like incorporating the Texas sauce (red sauce) with the chicken.  By the way, the other table sauce they serve is a tangy, mustard-based, South Carolina sauce which I like for pulled pork or ribs.  The ribs in particular have a really tasty “bark”.  Are ya’ hungry yet?

I give Smoke and 8 out of 9 on the Kansas City Barbeque Society judging scale.  I was glad to see they receive recognition in 100 to love: The Tampa Bay area’s best restaurants – St. Petersburg Times. Whereas I do not agree with the author’s barbecue choice, I would definitely include Smoke as one of the best.