Smokehouse 21

Written by mojdeh on June 18, 2016 in I Eat America, I Eat...Out with 0 Comments

(smokehouse21.com) – Northwest neighborhood, Portland, Oregon

How I heard of this place: Interested in BBQ for a Father’s Day weekend, our husbands went to Yelp for help. And here’s what we landed upon.

Type of cuisine: “Smokehouse 21 rubs and smokes a variety of barbecued fish, fowl, pig, lamb and cow. All of our meat and vegetables are sourced from local butchers and farmers, and the buns for our sandwiches come from Ken’s Artisan Bakery, right here in Portland.

All of our meat is served dry, so you determine which, if any, sauce you want and how much of it to use. Barbecue sauces include Classic and Spicy (Texan-style) or Spicy Vinegar and Mustard (Carolina-style). Each plate is paired with your choice of two sides, every sandwich with one. And everything comes with wet naps and extra napkins (trust us: you’ll want ‘em).”

Ambiance: Lightly hidden, the step down through the small doorway is the perfect entrance for Smokehouse 21’s cozy interior.

Indoors, limited seating, underneath stuffed animal heads keeps the space intimate and quaint.

The corner nook hosts alcohol and cookbooks, the register and glasses on cool shelves,

while walls are sparsely, but appropriately, satirically ornamented.

We were welcomed to our table, towards the back, and seated ourselves enthusiastically before quickly perusing the menu.

What I ordered: To start, who can turn down something called Warm Bacon Molasses ($3):
cornbread, smoked honey butter? Not us.

Neither of our two parties, in fact.

Our main entrées included a selection of Creekstone Farms Beef Brisket, Draper Valley Farms Smoked Chicken and Beef&Pork Hot Link Sausage for our cousins,

And a full rack of ribs for my husband ($30).

Our sides ($4 each), served family style, Macaroni and Cheese: 3-cheese, bacon and cornbread crumbs; BBQ Beans with brown sugar, molasses, meat bits, and cornbread crumbs; and Braised Greens with shallot, bacon, vinegar and brown butter.

What I loved: Macaroni and Cheese! Brisket. Ribs. Ribs. (Yes, twice.)

Why I loved it: With the semblances of a mom ‘n pop shop, this hipster joint is very cozy, real and unpretentious. They serve great food and do it well!