NOLA Smokehouse

Nola Smokehouse is exactly what I was looking for.

For years New Orleans had a lackluster selection of BBQ restaurants. It seems Nola is slowly starting to become more of a BBQ town and for that, I am grateful.

I happened upon Nola Smokehouse as a direct result of Yelp. Apparently they haven't been open too long and their page has been plastered on Yelp's front page for a few weeks. When I had a craving for BBQ last week, I remembered the name and headed to Jackson Avenue.

The building is rather unassuming from the outside. The only clue of what was in store for me was the amazing aroma and smoke wafting over the wooden fence out back. As I walked in, I knew I was in for a treat. The restaurant is somewhat Spartan on the inside, but that is exactly how I like it. This is not some fancy pretentious place. It is a casual, perfectly appointed restaurant with damn fine BBQ.

Since I was in a serious mood for BBQ, I opted for the three meat plate. My meats were sliced brisket, pulled pork and pork belly (a first for me as a BBQ dish). While they were preparing my plate, the chef was more than happy to talk BBQ with me and offer his tips. He also informed me that he will start doing BBQ classes on the weekends where participants get to eat the food they learn to cook. Sounds like a pretty good way to spend two hours on a Saturday. Back to the food.

While he was slicing the brisket for my plate, I was drooling like a passed out frat boy. That brisket looked and smelled absolutely amazing. The five minute ride back to my office seemed like it took an hour as the smell coming from my food made me want to violate the speed limit by 50 mph. I couldn't get back to my office fast enough.

Brisket

That brisket was amongst the best I have ever had in my entire life. I thought I made a good brisket on my Big Green Egg, but after one bite I realized I know nothing. The smoke flavor was perfect. The bark was perfect. The brisket was the perfect tenderness. Am I gushing? Yes. It was that good. So good that I tried to get more today only to realize they're closed on Monday. Oh well, there is always tomorrow.

Pulled Pork

The pork, like the brisket had an incredible smoky taste. Most times I've had pulled pork locally it lacks that smoke flavor and has little taste without sauce. Nola's version is perfectly seasoned and smoky. I bet it would make a great batch of nachos or sandwich as well as being great by itself.

Pork Belly

OK, here is what I've learned. Despite several attempts, I am not a fan of pork belly. This wasn't the fault of Nola Smokehouse. It's just one of those things I can't take in large doses. The pork belly slider at District is great, but that portion is enough for me. If you are a fan of pork belly, I would imagine you would love this version. It was melt in your mouth tender and had a great taste.
I absolutely loved the brisket and pork here. I have a feeling I will become a regular quite soon.

Note: The three meat plate is a massive quantity of BBQ. If you are really hungry, or want to share, I recommend you get that size.

It should come as no surprise that New Orleans is known worldwide for it's creole and Cajun delicacies and comfort food. What we are generally not associated with is being known for good BBQ. However, things are slowly changing as New Orleans has had its fair share of BBQ restaurants open these past few years. But none of them, and I mean NONE of them can stand toe to toe with the quality of the food at NOLA Smokehouse.

After a month or so of listening to the chatter on Yelp, I opted to go there. I am familiar with the area, but the restaurant is located in a very unassuming building on the corner of Jackson Ave and Annunciation, and there is no signage to speak of. But just roll down your window and let your nose lead the way to BBQ bliss, as the smoke trail is undeniable.

I am glad my 1st trip was not alone, as I was able to order the BBQ sampler and share this monstrosity of a meal in an effort to sample most of the menu items. Our platter included:

BEEF BRISKET - I'll put this brisket against anything that the Food Network has to offer. The smoke ring permeates about a 1/2 " deep into the meat and it's tender and juicy as heck. Smoked to perfection, sauce is optional and always served on the side.

PULLED PORK - The pork is literally melt in your mouth tender. Although chopped/shredded, there are still big enough pieces to sink your teeth into.

SAUSAGE - Even though the sausage was served sliced, the pieces were still big enough to appreciate that "snap" you get when you bite into a real sausage casing. This isn't for the faint of heart or those suffering with acid reflux, as it packs a bit of a spicy punch.

PORK RIBS - These were some of the best ribs I have ever eaten. As delicious as they were, so was the presentation in the way that they were sliced so that you could see the smoke ring penetration. Put your fork down, as the meat is gonna slide ride off of the bone.

BURNT ENDS - Prior to my 1st visit, I had never heard of a burnt end.
Burnt ends are popular in Kansas City and are the flavorful bits of meat cut from the point half of a smoked beef brisket; and they are considered a delicacy, and rightfully so. These little cubes of heaven all have a decent amount of charred bark on one end and a small layer of fat underneath; both of which reside on top of the flavorful beef brisket. You'd be wrong to think that the char implied toughness or dryness, as they are moist, melt in your mouth tender and delicious. Try the spicy BBQ sauce for a real treat or enjoy the smoky flavor all by itself. I've been here 6 times, and after having shared the sampler platter, I have gotten the burnt ends every single time thereafter. They are simply that good.

PORK BELLY - I had never tried pork belly either prior to my 1st visit here. Although I thought it was pretty good, and I ate every morsel, I think it's a bit of an acquired taste.

BAKED BEANS - I am not a "baked beans guy", as I don't like to fill myself up on side dishes, when there's quality meats being served. But the beans were solid and flavored just right.

CORN SPOONBREAD - This delightful treat was a pleasant surprise. Imagine a warm cornbread pudding. More of a warm dessert than a side, this is some good stuff.

SAUCES - There are three sauces available. There is sweet, spicy and traditional vinegar based BBQ sauce. All 3 have their own redeeming qualities, but the spicy is my favorite. However, the meat is so perfectly smoked, that I use only a touch, as I simply want a touch of "heat".

The inside of the restaurant is nothing to write home about, same as the outside. But it's functional and this place is all about the food and not the décor. I am glad to see the place is prospering, as I encountered a full house today, and a line of people ahead of me. But no matter how long the line is, I will wait, as I have sampled the smoky goodness inside. However, the word is out, some come early if you don't want to wait.

Let me know what you think! As for me, this is my go to spot for BBQ!

I now have two favorite BBQ places in Nola.... and yep...this is one of them.

After seeing two friends constantly barrage this place with visits and a recent group eat (UYE) I had enough and decided to finally visit. I wasnt worried about not enjoying it. If I had any worries, they were immediately dashed when I stepped foot inside and saw what was on others plates. Oh boy!!!!

I opted for the regular brisket sandwich and a side of corn spoonbread. I chose wisely.

I had my order to go because I snuck away on a whim. By the time I was making the Tchoupituolas onramp back to the westbank, I was swerving and tearing up the brisket. First bite was awesome. Then I dipped into the spicy sauce. Oh wow! That was just a meat bite. Next I went for the whole sandwich bite. Wow! That bread was wonderful! Just enough crispness. I dont know any of the back story on the bread, but I am sure its a pedigree story. By the time I was getting off on the Manhattan exit I was halfway done with the sandwich. At the red light I finally hit the spoonbread. Brah! Ok, that is similar to that corn yellow scoop of side that was available at Chevy's fresh mex. If you had that, that is what this is. Yummy! It is definitely my favorite way to eat corn.

By the time I got near Boomtown Casino it was all gone. Barely any spilled on me. Probably because I was in Dyson mode sucking it back. Not my usual Cookie Monster mode of sloppiness.

It was only one visit and I am writting this review but that was enough to know that as far as the East Bank of Nola... this is THE place for BBQ.

Pro tip.... get here at 11. The line started forming at 1130. Also you can see two Yelp Elites in the corner and get an autograph.

Super friendly women at the counter. Restaurant is simple: folding table and an ipad as the register with the chef and his kitchen "open concept".

Prices are fair, food was decent. I like that they asked if I wanted lean or fatty brisket, although what I got was in the middle, I'd hate to see what fatty is... Don't come here for the sides. The potato salad was too salty and rich (butter?) to eat. Literally didnt eat 2 containers of it. The coleslaw was as good as a bag of dole's from the grocery - basic. The meats were ok. The ribs were huge but mostly fat. Pork, smokey but needed some BBQ sauce to moisten it up.

I wouldnt say its the best BBQ I've eaten...

Behold: I have seen what is past the pearly gates, and it is the NOLA smokehouse. Quite possibly the best restaurant in NOLA; even the most expensive fru-fru spots could learn a thing or two about how to prepare meat from this little spot.

I really should have paid more attention to the sides I had, but one's concentration clouds over when one is in food nirvana and I can hopefully be forgiven for saying only that I had a lot of meat and some tasty sides.

As others have mentioned, the decor is not really a factor because when you're here, you're concentrating on the food in front of you.

NOLA Smokehouse. Stop wondering whether you should come here and just do it.

FAVORITE NEW RESTAURANT OF 2014
Last year I started a quest to find the best BBQ in this traditionally non BBQ town. Of those I sampled NOLA Smokehouse was by far the best and has kept me coming back. Further, even having opened just months ago, its quality is consistently stellar.

FYI: it's not in the best neighborhood and has had several attempted break-ins. So, don't be mislead if plywood is nailed over the door like I was. The restaurant hasn't folded, it's just forting-up.

Other 2014 Favorites: De Ville Crêperie, Melba's, Dmac's, Los Poblanos Food Truck, New Orleans Coffee & Beignets, Broad & Banks Seafood)

It took me a while to make it here, but I'm glad I finally had the opportunity to have lunch here. I love barbecue and as many have observed there's not a whole lot of good barbecue in New Orleans. I was really looking forward to trying the smokehouse since the reviews of it are uniformly good.

The place itself is exactly what one might expect with a barbecue joint. It is quite Spartan, spare but clean. The focus is clearly on the food, not the surroundings. My friend and I decided to share a sampler platter which is not inexpensive but not outrageous either at approximately $40. I say not outrageous because there was plenty of meat on the platter.

My favorite was probably the so-called burnt ends Which are essentially the ends of the brisket. They were extremely flavorful, juicy, and full of smoke. The brisket itself was a little disappointing, not real smoky and very dry. They use a flat cut brisket as opposed to the whole brisket rendering the meat a little on the dry side since the other muscle contains all the fat. The ribs were above-average although a little undercooked. By that I mean they didn't quite fall off the bone as I would've expected. The pulled pork was excellent.

I also liked the three sauces provided. I particularly like the fact that the sauces are all on the side so you can add as you choose. And all the sauces were true to the BBQ tradition in other words no Ketchup style sauces foisted on the masses by corporate food giants from the North.

The side dishes were a bit disappointing. The coleslaw was well below average although I have very high standards for coleslaw. The savory bread putting likewise was not my favorite. The corn pudding was excellent no question about that. There was also something called sugarcane caviar? It was a little weird frankly. Creative but weird. For some reason I just did not take a liking to it.

But all in all it was a successful foray into barbecue cooking. Is it the best I have ever had? Absolutely not. But if you have a hankering for barbecue, you'll get at least a little satisfaction here.

New Orleans and the surrounding areas are blessed...BLESSED when it comes to creole food. The culinary gods smiled upon us and I can say with the utmost certainty that our food is one of the best in this nation. You come here and we will feed you delicious food until you're stuffed silly. Then we will insist you have seconds and don't forget to save room for dessert. Bread pudding, anyone? How about a nice bananas foster?

We were lacking in one area...BBQ. And by BBQ I mean brisket. No more my friends. No more.

Nola Smokehouse is totally legit. I went and ordered the brisket. You have a choice of regular, lean or a mix of both. I ordered lean, scared that it would be dry and sand-papery. Nope. Falling apart as soon as you touch it. Moist, smokey and to die for good. Don't tell my dad, but it's better than his. And his is the best thing in the world. No kidding, y'all.

The potato salad is better than my creole grandmother's and I've loved hers all of my life.

The spicy sauce on the table is soooo great. Trust me, this brisket needs no sauce at all, but that spicy sauce. Oh my. Come to me, lover. It enhances the brisket in the best way. They are perfect partners.

Oh and by the way, the wife of the genius who is making the brisket is the most genuinely nice lady I've encountered in some time.

Thank you, Nola Smokehouse. You complete me. You complete this entire city.

Now you know where to get fantastic BBQ in New Orleans. Enjoy!

See all them stars? All that heavy bright red up in that average rating? That's no mistake.

It ain't a case that the owner's friends all coming on here and tried to game you, dog. It ain't some kind of fluke.

NOLA Smokehouse is the best and [apparently] the most under-appreciated BBQ in town at the moment. Don't let it get to you that the decor isn't up yet and that you're sitting at cheap tables in a cinder-block room that, sure, can get a little hot. And don't worry that this used to be that one wing place that had pretty decent wings but didn't ever seem to really sell any. There's magic here.

Get the Sampler. You'll want to try it all: the fall-off-bone ribs, the transcendent corn spoon bread, the burnt ends, the pickled veggies, the sausage, the brisket, whatever they've got. It's all incredible. Chef Rob's smoking stuff overnight for your mind to explode the next day. The sweet sauce is like nothing I've had--complex but also very, very sweet. The spicy is super tasty as well. It's all served on a giant platter.

The place has just recently switched to having dinner service, until 7, and me and my friend were the only customers for a little while there [530's an odd time though].

This is the most beautiful and honest exchange. A man and his wife building a business. You can say you were there back when you were the only people in the restaurant. Because you certainly won't be able to say that for much longer.

Sometimes (or daily), I get an itch.
An itch that only a healthy dose of BBQ can fix.
Some call me a junkie...others refer to me as an enthusiast.
Either way, the smell brings out the caveman in me.

I recently fell victim to said cravings this past weekend.
Yelp to the rescue.
NOLA Smokehouse was in my crosshairs.

The app said they are closed on Sundays.
Closed?
Let me call them.
Sure enough, they were going to open at 11.

I have heard the stories about this place selling out so I didn't want to chance it.
Salivating, I hopped on my bike and scooted their direction.
The smell got stronger as I turned off Magazine and I knew I was getting closer.
The anticipation was killing me.

11:02 I walk in the door.
I think to myself that I have arrived...as I inhale the intoxicating aromas.

To this point I had a solid game plan: Order the sampler platter (so I could get a taste of everything).
All that planning went out the window when I saw the sign for Burnt Ends.
Im so weak when it comes to Burnt Ends.
On a whim, I told them to make it a sandwich (Im a genius).

The Ends were crispy, fatty, cured and exactly what I needed. They even dusted the meat with a bit of Fleur de Sel.
Nice touch.
The bread even soaked up the rendered fat that had managed to make it to my plate.
I loved it.
Fat always gives me the Meat sweats.

It took me approximately 22 minutes to eat my sandwich.
In that time, they managed to sell out of Ribs, Brisket and the Burnt Ends.
22 minutes from opening.
22 minutes people.

Thats both Mind Blowing and an excellent Business Plan.
Keeps the demand high.
Apparently that is a regular thing for them too.

The 'No frills' interior of this place is a true calling card for a quality BBQ joint.
All the focus is on the food...as it should be.

I did regret riding my bike there.
The pain on the ride home was intense but I muscled through anyways.

If you do happen to visit NS, be prompt.
The food waits for no one.
I dont want to see another grown man whimpering in the parking lot because they sold out of Brisket.
THERE'S NO CRYING IN BBQ.