Still Smokin'

by Kurt Epps--The PubScout

A while back, I published an article about a brand new (at the time) restaurant in Shallotte, NC. Called Smoke'd, I even commented about the unnecessary apostrophe. You may get the joke in the title here.

But the measure of a restaurant is not in its name; it's in its product and service.

So we took some house guests back to Smoke'd to give it another assessment. We again met Stephanie--now promoted to GM--who greeted us as we were seated immediately, despite it being the middle of a busy Labor Day weekend.

The place was packed and filled with the sounds of diners enjoying their night out. Tate was our server, a pleasant, affable young man who worked efficiently as well as nonstop.

Our food was outstanding, from the delicious--and unique-- Corn Ribs Appetizer, to the missus' Smoke'd Shrimp Burger to Brian's Smoke'd Ribs to Rose's Smoke'd Brisket. I tried a dish, technically an appetizer, called Swamp Fries, loaded with a blend of melted cheeses atop pulled pork and covered with an outstanding aoili sauce.

But the dish was large enough to feed two--or even three. And you could order it with pulled chicken or brisket. Of course, we washed it all down with some craft beers from Smoke'd's extensive beer list, some wine and a cocktail or two.

Though we were all far too full to order that special Homemade Apple Crumble Cobbler, we did get to meet the sweethearts of Smoke'd--Tate, our server, and his lovely lady Jillian. A cute couple they made, too. You can almost always tell when young folks are in love. It looked like these two were.

Who knows, Maybe the two will get Hitche'd at Smoke'd?

If so, I hope I'm invited to the wedding. The food alone will be grand.

Cheers!

The PubScout--immersed in the craft beer scene since 1996

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