I had the opportunity to try Smoakie Kitchen yesterday and wanted to share my experience. They have several options, so I chose the 2X2 offering (2 meats and 2 sides) in order to sample more items and see what I might want in the future. A family member went with and did the same; we somewhat shared our orders in order to try things that were on 1 plate but not the other. Although some of the items were not really to my liking, others were fantastic! I will definitely be back. Below are the things we tried and my feelings on them.
Fatty Brisket: To die for! It is very fatty, but that's a big part of what keeps brisket so moist and flavorful. The fat was easily trimmed off and the meat remaining was a very substantial portion. It was perfect - no sauce or seasonings needed beyond what it was cooked in.
Ribs: Eh... not my favorite. They were fairly tender but I make ribs and found them to be a bit rushed. Parts seemed more dried out and there wasn't much flavor to write home about. They were ok but I wouldn't personally bother with these again when I can get better ribs at home.
Hotlinks: Tasty! These were perfectly cooked and spicy but not *too* spicy... you can handle it.
Smoakie Beans: Phenomenal! I could eat these by the bucket-full.The beans were prepared in a thin but very flavorful sauce, perfectly cooked. Along with the beans, chunks of I believe every meat they serve were present, adding both flavor and substance. These had a little spice to them (green chilies were used) but it wasn't anything crazy, so probably just about everyone would enjoy them.
Mac n' Cheese: Not bad! Not my favorite, but they were very cheesy. If anything, these just needed some seasoning and the noodles cooked just a bit less (they were a bit overly soft).
Cole Slaw: Good! I've had some that were a bit better, but this is still one of the better slaws I've had. It tasted very fresh and well-balanced. I was missing a little brine to it that I love in a few others, but that was the only negative.
Barbecue Sauce: Now this I have to say I really didn't like. The basics were present in its composition but it was WAY too sweet for my liking. If you like a very sweet barbecue, this might be for you. That's just not me though.
So - I have a very strong preference for their brisket and smoakie beans. I do want to try their other meats at some point, too, and might see how things like their cornbread and baked beans are, too. However, I will definitely be back - that's not even up for debate. :)