Monday, May 5, 2008

Smokey's is Smokin Again!

For those of you who live on the East side of Fort Worth, you have probably noticed a few pros and cons. A major pro is that you probably have the most amount of home you can buy in Fort Worth for the least amount of money. Secondly, you have great access to major highways like 820 and I30 which make getting around a snap. Thirdly, the area is on a current upswing which means that everyday, it seems to get a little better.

There are also a few cons to residing on the east-side. First of all, the grocery stores in the area are not fabulous, especially if you are a gourmet cook. Just ask the poor manager at Albertsons how often he has to order specialty items for me like prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella and swordfish. Secondly, you have to go relatively far to get to high-end retail shops so if you have to buy an emergency gift enroute to a neighborhood party, you might have to get fairly creative. But the most difficult con to live with is the fact that good places to eat are pretty scarce around these parts. Thankfully, now we have Smokey's.

During the 1980's, Smokey's BBQ was a local hot spot. But urban decay and economic decline ravaged the area and Smokey's was forced to close its doors. A few months ago, Smokey's, under new ownership, fired up its grills, fryers and smokers and began vending its premium BBQ in the same, modestly decorated Dairy Queen building as it had 20-something years ago.

A drive down to 5300 East Lancaster Avenue and a little over ten bucks will get you a giant plate of ribs that fall off the bone before you can pick them up and two of your favorite side items. I got the baked beans which were absolutely perfect and the crispy cool cole-slaw which helped round out the perfectly spiced sauce and the sweetness of the beans. You won't want to miss Smokey's rolls either which were hot, fresh and buttery.

It isn't fancy. It's just close to home, delicious and it makes you feel good just to go inside. In my opinion, compared to the big BBQ chains in the area, Smokey's will smoke 'em every time.