The outdoor patio space had beautiful landscaping and fire pits, making you feel as if you are in a photo shoot for Architectural Digest.
I was worried when we made a reservation it would be one of those “Big D, pack’em in nights” at the Smokey Rose, where the food is expensive, the drinks are weak and the service is just Okay. Two out of my three fears became reality, but it overall was very tolerable. The Smokey Rose is located just across the street from the Dallas Arboretum and their unique décor and beautiful setting definitely make it worth stopping in. I thought there would be more than just BBQ, and to be honest, I could’ve made better brisket at home. But, the ambiance and the casual, yet upscale crowd makes it a worthwhile place to sit, drink and people watch.
We could have sat on the patio for hours and enjoyed ourselves, except for the fact that we had trouble getting some basic service. The manager, who convinced me to try the OHB Golden Mustache (thanks, BTW!!), noticed after about 15 minutes that our waiter never brought it out…so he comped me one and brought it himself. Much appreciated! Guys, this is a great date night place for young and old (not too old), but stay away from the brisket and try the burger, the onion rings and the Smokey Rose drink (it’s a winner); go down the street to Intrinsic for BBQ. Say hi to the manager, and if you find my waiter tell him I am still waiting for that beer!
If you are anything like me, you have spent years trying to find the quintessential restaurant that hits all the marks. Walking up to the Smoky Rose, I began to wonder if we had finally found it! The outdoor patio space had beautiful landscaping and fire pits, making you feel as if you are in a photo shoot for Architectural Digest. On a side note, the valet guys were crazy friendly which made for a nice first impression. So, we were initially enamored with the restaurant – the smoker, beautiful interior, and friendly valet – but all of that changed quickly.
After being promptly seated, we talked about what a neat space it was and how great the T.V.’s were for watching the game. Our server came over and took our order for drinks and an appetizer but was not knowledgeable regarding cocktails and wine. To start, Tim had the Smoky Rose cocktail and I had a glass of Mohua Sauvignon Blanc. He liked his but mine was underwhelming and they both took a very long time to receive. We also ordered the smokehouse onion stack which was good. For my entrée, I had the two-meat plate with brisket and turkey. We ordered the large mac-n-cheese and jalapeno kale coleslaw to share. The food was good, but pricey and certainly not the best barbecue we have had. Tim ordered a beer that never came, and I chose not to order another drink. We were both underwhelmed and disappointed because this is such a pretty place we really wanted to enjoy the drinks and were surprised by such poor and slow service. All in all, we may be back to try brunch, but other than enjoying a drink on the patio, I can say this is not somewhere I will be back to when I am craving barbecue.
