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  2. United States
  3. Central Kentucky
  4. Louisville
  5. Frankfort Ave - Crescent Hill
The Smokery, Louisville, KY

The Smokery

4.0
4
34 Reviews
$30 and under
Barbecue
Top tags:
We are a locally owned Barbecue and Wagyu Burger Restaurant with Tiki Bar Back Patio Seating Area We smoke out meats right in our back patio area and Also have a Food Truck Kitchen
Located in the Heart of The Historic Clifton Restaurant District.
Casual Dining Experience .
Full Service, Full Bar, Draft Beer Selection, Cocktails, Outside Seating available
CHEF GIOVANNI TENACE
Call ahead for parties more than 6

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Cuisines
    Barbecue, Burgers, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Sun 2:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (502) 709-5176
  • Website
    https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Smokery/100088548919519/
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress

What 34 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.0
4 based on recent ratings
  • 3.8Food
  • 4.2Service
  • 3.8Ambience
  • 3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Central Kentucky

    Child-Friendly

  • Central Kentucky

    Good for groups

  • Central Kentucky

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Louisville

    Child-Friendly

  • Louisville

    Good for groups

  • Louisville

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Louisville

    Great for outdoor dining

34 Reviews

  1. ElissaP

    Louisville

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great food this is the 2nd time we have eaten here and the food is delicious.

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  2. Freddy

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Best Wings I’ve had in years ! Love the dry bbq rub! The jerk sauce was to die for .. Casual atmosphere, Counter service at the bar. Was not too terribly busy so the food came out quick . We will be back

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  3. LoisH

    Louisville

    15 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on August 18, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    The Smokery was a great small spot to have a date night. We enjoyed sitting outside eating and enjoying our Great Food. The service was wonderful.

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  4. Brady

    Louisville

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Best Bbq in the ville ! We loved the Western Wagyu with brisket burger ! First time here as they are locslly owned and a brand new place that they just built 🙃met the owner and he was very nice ! The staff worked well together even though they are new. And the wings were phenomenal! We will come back and highly recommend this to others

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  5. CocoInTheVille

    Western KY

    36 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    36 reviews

    Dined on July 26, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience3
    The Smokery is a small, quite place with good food and affordable cocktails. The service was excellent and everyone had a great time.

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  6. MarkH

    Louisville

    3 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 8, 2023

    overall1food1service3ambience3
    Ribs extremely dry. Brisket portion on Mac and Cheese very small and not cut properly- stringy.

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  7. Deborah

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Nice new addition to the neighborhood. I love how they took an old abandoned building and converted it into a restaurant . The tiki bar patio area in the back is really awesome . The wings were awesome. Tried the Mac n cheese and the Cesar salad. All of them were magnificent. I’ll be back to try the brisket soon ! Then the ribs

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  8. RParker

    Louisville

    8 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on June 24, 2023

    overall3food2service4ambience3
    We had reservations for 7. We ended up with 6. When we arrived, the restaurant was empty and was pretty bare the entire night, but we were asked if we had reservations. We confirmed. The table was not ready, we had to put it together ourselves. Smoked old fashions were good. The service was fantastic! We had water filled constantly, and we were checked regularly. The food was, unfortunately, dry. All of it. Brisket, chicken, pork, wings. Onion rings were good, truffle fries were plain, coleslaw was flavorless. However, the Gouda Mac and cheese was the star of the entire meal for all of us! Ratings were high, but we were disappointed. Unfortunately, we probably will not be back.

    1 person found this helpful

  9. ElissaP

    Louisville

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great food, the BQ was delicious. Loved the Mac and cheese. Highly recommend. Great service.

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  10. Niccole

    Louisville

    6 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 23, 2023

    overall2food1service3ambience2
    Food was Luke warm and everything tasted as if it came from a can. Presentation wasn’t the best either. Service was okay. Staff was nice, but no greeting when you came in and no understanding where to go initially and was told just to sit wherever. Ambulance was okay, but it’s dark and just felt bizarre.

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  11. CarrieT

    Louisville

    4 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 18, 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    Service was great but they were out of many items that we were looking forward to, so that was disappointing.

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  12. KathyS

    Louisville

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on June 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service! Wings were delicious bar service was amazing.

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  13. JOHNNY

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Just tried the place for the first time. Got a pound of brisket and the wings ! Deeeeeelicious ! Best smoked wings in town! We will definitely be back!

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  14. LOUISVILLE

    Louisville

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Went for the 2nd time today . The 1st time was great so I wanted to go back and see if it was consistent and it was ! The brisket was perfectly done and seasoned just right. The smoked Gouda Mac n cheese was steaming hot and delicious . 10 stars !!

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  15. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This was our favorite restaurant that we visited in Louisville. The food and service were amazing. It’s a bit off the beaten path, but that made it even better. I highly recommend taking The effort to eat here if you are in Louisville.

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  16. Christian

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Best BBQ we’ve had in Louisville so far. I highly recommend the Mac n cheese. The brisket was juicy and delicious, melted in my mouth. I also got the jerk wings. Fire! They were a little short staffed it seemed like a lot of other restaurants but the food came out quick and it was hot and fresh. Service was on point and friendly. We will be coming back for sure.

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  17. life

    Louisville

    46 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    46 reviews

    Dined on May 23, 2023

    overall5food3service5ambience3
    Our server Alex was excellent. Very informative and attentive

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  18. JenelH

    Louisville

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on May 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great service and food, as always. Cute atmosphere with friendly service. The brisket was great and the wings were tender and juicy. Love this place!

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  19. DavidP

    London

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on May 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Some of the best brisket and wings you’ll EVER have! Not to mention the mac’n’cheese!!! Friendly and knowledgeable staff as certainly will be back soon!!

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  20. OpenTable Diner

    Louisville

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I truly believe this is the Best Barbecue food I’ve had in Louisville KY. The wings were very tender and the bourbon barbecue sauce was to die for. My wife had the ribs and they were the best hands down. Will definitely return and thank you for your hospitality 🙏🏻

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  21. NashvilleElena

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I’m new to Kentucky and decided to venture out of my norm and try some barbecue. I didn’t grow up eating a ton of meat and never really liked the idea of bbq. However, this place has completely changed my mind. First off, the smoked wings are out of this world. And for someone who doesn’t like wings I can attest that these will blow your mind. The bread and butter for me is their brisket. Be it a brisket taco or the sandwich it is simply irresistible. You’ll be craving this stuff every day. The service was phenomenal between both servers taking care of us to ensure a pleasant experience, the incredible chef (Giovanni) and the wonderful owner (Andrew). The bartender makes a killer smoked old fashion and their pineapple margaritas are the icing on the cake. Great music, great vibes, total ambience paired with great conversations- this place is it! I am a forever fan! Ps. I managed to snag a shot of the wings but inhaled the rest of my food before I could take a pic lol. Just trust me, go try them for yourselves.

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  22. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was the best barbecue we have had in Louisville. I had the ribs and the Gouda Mac was steaming, hot and delicious.  My wife tried the brisket and I had a pie and it was so delicious. It melted in my mouth. The staff was very friendly and very professional. I can’t wait to go back again I’m so glad that they are here and they are a new place. I know they are pretty new.  I love the ambience and the bourbon barrel walls that they have on the inside of the bar is really nice also.

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  23. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 14, 2023

    overall2food2service5ambience3
    The server was very nice. The burger was way over cooked. The pork and brisket were both good, brisket sandwich portion was small. The wait staff was however very accommodating.

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  24. OpenTable Diner

    Louisville

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 13, 2023

    overall3food4service3ambience3
    The food was great but they will need to upgrade there seating area

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  25. Podge

    Louisville

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on May 13, 2023

    overall3food2service4ambience3
    Sat outside, bartender/waitress did great, unfortunately the food is average.

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  26. OpenTable Diner

    Atlanta Metro

    14 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on May 13, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    My son , his fiancé and myself wanted to try something new for my mother’s day dinner. Boy did we try something new….The food was foul, cold and overall horrible. I took one bite of my wagyu burger and it tasted horrible. The waiter asked if it was like vinegar because vinegar could have spilled on the burger. I am not sure how or why, but yes it was foul tasting like vinegar. He took it away. lMy mac and cheese was cold and the added brisket was cold, over cooked, and bland. Waiter stated that the noodles are premade and cheese is warmed and put over the noodles and all brisket gets reheated.. rHe took it away, when he came back said he couldn’t find the chef to tell him and that he maybe in a mood anyway…. He never brought any food back and charged me full priced. We walked outside, to leave, the waiter comes out to tell me next time he would give me a credit…there will be no next time.

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  27. WhatzHaute

    St. Louis

    17 reviews

    4.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on May 6, 2023

    overall4food3service5ambience2
    Nice end of the night meal; not too heavy, just enough and the service was impeccable. The smoke area was a huge turn off and not able to enjoy the outside seating because of it.

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  28. LVFoodie

    Las Vegas

    16 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on May 4, 2023

    overall2food1service2ambience4
    Party of 6, this was the worst BBQ we’ve all ever had. The Nachos were just chips on a plate, every single thing we preferred was not good. The lobster Mac and Cheese was somehow fishy. And it took an hour to get out food. Was a very odd experience.

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  29. OpenTable Diner

    Louisville

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 30, 2023

    overall1food1service2ambience2
    Left a factual review on Yelp about what a bad experience it was, and a Michael P,, business manager posted that I was a competitor trying to defame the business. Not true and a scammy /slimy way to handle a bad review. Ribs had a strong smoke taste, not smokey like they should be, a dry just smoke favor and dry. Gouda mac and cheese blah. Brisket was moist, however void of much flavor. No sweet option for bbq, and mild was quite hot imo. Gave most of my lunch to my husband as it wasn't worth eating. Onion rings appeared to be standard frozen. Oh, and be prepared to be told repeatedly that they have a former Chef from Lemoo who cooked expensive steaks. And if you have any face to face feedback, they'll tell you 999 out of a thousand love it. Hi, it's me, number 1k. Oh, and im still not a competitor, as accused, live up to bad reviews, I'm sure there will be more. I was also sent a private message from this michael p through stating that I was a very rude lady and should be ashamed of myself. For leaving a review? Handle criticism much?

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  30. OpenTable Diner

    Louisville

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    The Brisket was delicious! Nice smoked flavor and very tender. Good job!

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  31. OpenTable Diner

    Louisville

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on April 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    We were seated in the “back room” with the bourbon staves. Very cool, although the lighting was a bit harsh and the seating was folding chairs. The smoked meat smell hits you right away, which I thought smelled delicious. I had the wagyu burger and it was outstanding. Paired with their Mac n cheese, which also was amazing. Hubby had the chicken tacos and others in our group did wings and the brisket. Brisket seemed to be the only meal that got a “meh, it was ok”. Surprising bc everyone else raved about their meal. Fairly extensive beer list. All in all, great meal and we will be back.

    1 person found this helpful

  32. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 14, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and service. Food came out incredibly fast and tasted amazing.

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  33. OpenTable Diner

    Denver

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We went here for an out of the way meal. The service was very quick and the food was delicious. We had the brisket sandwich without the bun, the brisket was nice and tender and this is coming from a picky Texan. Look forward to visiting again in the future.

    The SmokeryResponded on March 26, 2023

    Thanks so much ! We appreciate you !! Lots of people have come to our restaurant from Texas and mentioned that our brisket reminds them of home !

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  34. LOUISVILLE

    Louisville

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was delicious . Best Barbecue I’ve ever had. Friendly Staff; excellent service. We will definitely be back.

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FAQs

The Smokery is rated 4 stars by 34 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Google Map for The Smokery

2354 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206-2467

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Frankfort Ave next to Walgreens
  • Neighbourhood
    Frankfort Ave - Crescent Hill
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch Sun 2:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–12:00 am Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    Barbecue, Burgers, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking Details
    Street Parking
  • Public Transit
    can park at walgreens
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