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| - After months of patiently waiting for the owners of the Blowin' Smoke food cart to open the doors of their Waunakee restaurant, I finally had an opportunity to grab a lunch last week.
The Verdict: Decidedly mixed - I loved the mountain of savory sweet potato fries and service was remarkably efficient for a new operation, but the BBQ itself did not light my fire.
The owners did a splendid job creating a cozy dining space. The array of award ribbons from various BBQ competitions covering on the walls creates an instant air of legitimacy. I appreciated the clean look of the stainless steel fixtures in the open kitchen space where the staff was frenetically prepping ingredients for the oncoming lunch crowd. I'm a fan of natural light which a row of windows on the west wall provided. There was a muted, single flat screen TV on the wall across from me. Instead of the usual news or sports programming, the staff went with the bold choice or airing an infomercial for a spinning mop. As for Wi-Fi, the restaurant's signal is not available to the customers according to my server.
The menu offers a variety of options beyond the typical BBQ fare. While the appetizer choices were standard bar fare (nachos, onion rings, poppers, etc.), I was interested to see an assortment of specialty sandwiches (Reuben, BLT Club, Chicken Cordon Bleu). The commitment to variety also extends to the sides, where they offer twelve options, including cheese curds and broccoli raisin salad. Starting in February, Blowin' Smoke will be adding steaks, burgers and seafood options. In addition, kudos are in order for having a small selection of reasonably priced kid-friendly items on the menu.
After studying the menu, I elected to pork butt sandwich ($6.99) which normally comes with chips and a pickle. Diners have the option of upgrading to one of the sides for a $1.49 up-charge and I didn't hesitate one second to go with the sweet potato waffle fries. That was the smartest move of the day as I was served a veritable mountain of crinkle-cut sweet potato goodness. There served piping hot with a wonderfully crunchy exterior and healthy does of salt. They paired well with the spicy BBQ sauce served with my sandwich.
I was disappointed with my pork sandwich on a number of fronts. The meat was lukewarm and surprisingly dry - I wonder if I had the leftovers from the previous day. It was not the succulent, tender porkiness that I previously enjoyed at their food cart. The bun was bland and dry, reminding me of the burger buns you pick up at the local grocery store. Moreover, for the price, I thought the serving size was small. If not for the exceedingly generous of serving of fries, I would have gone home hungry. Reflecting back on the experience, I should have said something to my server. I was working on a project during my visit and was a bit pre-occupied. I know the kitchen staff is capable of producing a much better product.
To end things on a positive note, the service I received was wonderful, especially considering the restaurant just opened. The host promptly greeted and seated me, my inquiries were politely addressed and my server checked in on me often.
Despite the shortcomings, Blowin' Smoke is a much-needed addition to Waunakee dining scene and I expect them to prosper in their new location. Once the kitchen settles into the new environs and delivers a more consistent product, an upgrade to a four star rating may be in order.
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