Smoked

Fresh Meats, In-House Smoking Process, Unique Sauces

You got to love a clever, well phrased, and well placed sign that immediately grabs your attention. The other day I was driving along Forest Avenue in Portland, usually oblivious to the clutter of signs along the way, but then I saw this one displaying “F%@! YEAH WE’RE OPEN” and just had to check it out. It was a much anticipated soft opening for Portland’s newest BBQ restaurant SMOKED. (They also have Smoked Windham). I knew I would be having a good time when the sign over the door advertised Wings, Burgers, BBQ, Ice Cold Beer, Cocktails, and Questionable Staff. The smell of smoked meats wafting from the kitchen was tantalizing and drew me inside and made me want to try everything on the menu. Honestly, the smell of smoked meats should be bottled and sold as an aphrodisiac. The decor was whimsical, the space bright and airy, with a casual vibe. Over the bar was an extensive array of ceramic beer mugs. Customers that join the Smoked Mug Club can personalize their own mug along with other benefits, discounts, freebies and swag, culminating with an annual Mug Club Member Party. 

The menu headings may be lighthearted, but the menu choices are seriously substantial in taste and portions. You can begin with Just a Quickie for an array of appetizers including the usual all things fried, to the extra fun poutine. My favorite is the always-sold-out-fast burnt ends with a side of Maple Bourbon BBQ sauce. And with a name like SMOKED, you would expect all things meaty on the menu, but they also offer a variety of salads under Lettuce Impress. A lengthy list of sandwiches are under Between the Buns. So many choices. All would have been delicious I am sure. I finally settled on the Smoked Reuben with house-made pastrami. Oh my goodness …. That house-made pastrami was incredible. My friend chose the Roast Beef Sliders, 3 mini house-smoked roast beef sliders with horseradish mayo and American cheese. If carbs are what you crave, Pasta LaVista Baby is build your own mac & cheese bowl. 

The Kid’s Menu choices of “I Don’t Know”, “I’m Not Hungry”, “I Want To Go Home”, “Can We Go To McDonalds?”, “I’m Bored”, and my number one favorite … “Heavy Sigh-Eye Roll” were my favorite bit of menu humor. By the way, the latter offering is a grilled cheese sandwich with American cheese on Texas toast, served with hand-cut fries. You can tell by the cleverly phrased menu offerings that someone is having a fun time. And by the full parking lot, you can tell that SMOKED is doing something right.