Smokinly Good BBQ
Do you ever have a take-away night, we do and it’s called take-away Thursday! However even though your dedicated day might have a name, have you ever thought to yourself “I don’t know what I want, we’ve had (insert dish) so often, I fancy a change”. But then you cannot decide, or don’t know the options so you end up getting another curry/spring roll/bag of chips as it is easier, and you only sort-of enjoy them?
Well This Caveman decided that this is not an option, and in his role of local champion of new, exciting businesses and cuisines he went searching. This was when he found a BBQ takeaway, nestled at the back of a busy industrial Estate in Tewksbury.
Smokinly Good BBQ, Unit 64, Basepoint Business Centre, Tewkesbury Business Park, Oakfield Cl, Tewkesbury, GL20 8SD looked like the perfect place to go and try something new, and just looking at the website it was obvious this was not going to be another boring paper bag delivery.
So one cold, wet Thursday evening in January, he went hunting and gathering. Not knowing what to expect, from a food place in an industrial park, expectations were low, but wow, the effort to get there and to see the place was worth the effort.
Found in the corner of a business centre was a set of benches under a canopy and 2 open doorways behind it. But it was not just this great looking seating area, it was the smell of BBQ. Not the back garden burnt sausages and burger type. No it was the smell of sweet meat, the stuff that dreams are made of. This was the toe tingling whiff of meat and sauce, made by people who know what they are doing. I had just found my gold mine.
Parking up, it was clear there were 2 doors. Taking a quick look, there was a bar area and the food place, but both were part of the same business. Wandering into the food unit on the left, I saw that this place was not just a takeaway, with benches and tables inside, country music playing and people working away in the back, preparing food and managing the orders, this was somewhere I’d happily go for an hour or two. Getting food and then grabbing a drink from next door. Plenty of seating and a nice vibe this would be a great memory place.
The menu (which was the evening menu) looked amazing and not knowing what to get I decided to get the tray, which had all the meats on offer, carved up and handed over for enjoyment.
Ordering was easy, the staff were great, willing to chat and explaining how and what they do to get the flavour right. It was a clear these people were passionate about the experience. Once ordered, it was easy to sit there and wait, but instead I took a look around. Putting in an order for two smokinly good box meals, with wedges and a dessert, I paid and had a few minutes to wait.
I found a second menu for lunchtime food, covering mainly sandwiches, burgers and baked potatoes. I made a decision that if the food was half as good as I was expecting, I would be back to to try the lunchtime menu.
Still having some time left, I wandered into the other unit so I could check out the bar. This itself is a cool place to visit, even without food I could have easily sat there with a beer and enjoyed the music and location. The staff were great, attentive and friendly, everything an American style bar needed.
Anyway back to the food, it was not long before my order was ready and collecting it, I could see a large brown paper bag. Picking it up it was hefty! Stood there in the food infused air, BBQ sauce, meat and fried ‘things’, knowing the weight of the bag was the contents of our meal.
I almost ran back to the car so that I could get this home and check out the food inside the paper bag. Walking through my front door and opening the bag on worktop the smell was incredible. We sat at the counter top, savouring the sweet, sticky, tasty contents of our boxes, within the first bite it was clear this place was now the top of our takeaway Thursday list! There is no way that I can describe it apart from delicious!
The food was that good, that a few days later I was back to order lunch, and this time I took the camera, my daughter and it was the reason I was able to do this review. She heard how good the food was and she was not going to let the opportunity pass her by.
The Lunch menu was just as good as the evening. Leaving this time with a brisket sandwich, a brisket burger and a loaded brisket jacket potato. The care, attention and passion this place puts into the making, cooking and preparing the meat is something else. Sat back home, we all tucked in. I genuinely could not wait and although I was able to do the video (see above) I totally forgot to take photos of the food. So daughters brisket burger was snatched from her hands, even after she had started to tuck into it, for the photo opportunity.
If you are bored, not sure who or what food to order on you takeaway night, I promise that you will not go wrong if you tried this jewel of a find. I know we will be going back.
