thePULSEA Cool Twist on Down Home Cookin’
By Rachel Shuster
Opened in June, Smokestack Urban Barbecue is the brand new spot for delicious BBQ. Co-owners Erin Romaine and Bonny Alrymple foresee nothing but success with this new endeavor.
If Erin’s last name sounds familiar, you are correct. Erin Romaine is the proud wife of Richard Romaine, owner of Romaine’s Wood Grill and Bar in Northborough. “Romaine’s is a little higher end. My husband is a trained chef, from Louisiana, and his passion and assertiveness to open this new restaurant made everything happen,” Erin Romaine says. “Smokestack Urban BBQ is more ‘mom and pop,’ but done right. It offers variety, great food, service, a friendly atmosphere, etc. It’s simple but edgy at the same time,” she adds.
The restaurant’s name originated from the two huge smokestacks in the building at 90 Harding Street in Worcester, but the cool slate blue and rust colors inside make for a surprisingly cool feel. Upside down pails serve as lighting for your meal, and the whiskey barrels and Texas stars complete the modern decoration. “This isn’t your regular country roadhouse,” Romaine says. “It’s very eclectic, cool and hip.”
As for the menu? It’s just as cool as the atmosphere. Appetizers include gumbo, clam chowder, shrimp and grits, fried pickles and friend oysters ranging from $3.95 – $8.95. Salads include Caesar, iceberg wedge and BBQ brisket ranging from $5.95 – $14.95. A section of the menu called “In the Pits” has beef brisket, pork, ribs, etc. ranging from $12.95 – $20.95. The “Between the Buns” section includes sandwiches such as the “po-boy” (a southern classic) and beef brisket. Other dishes include blackened catfish, jambalaya, fish tacos and “Not your mama’s fried chicken.”
“We also have our own BBQ sauces,” Romaine says. Sauces include the Carolina Q and Kansas City Kick, which they also bottle and sell in their general store.
As for drinks, check out the full bar and, even better, the full Hurricane drink menu, another southern staple!
Smokestack has plans to have live bands play while you chow down on some serious BBQ grub.
Smokestack is open every night for dinner with hours Sunday 12pm-8pm, Monday-Thursday 4:30pm-10pm and Friday & Saturday 4:30pm-11pm. Smokestack is also open for lunch on Wednesday-Saturday from 11:30am-2pm.
For more information, check out www.bbqstack.com. See you there!
Photos courtesy of www.pigtrip.net
