The Smokehouse

Unfortunately (or fortunately in our case), it looks like "The Smokehouse" is no more.

Drove by there today & all signs are gone, & the place appears emptied of furnishings.  No "for lease" signs or anything like that, but ladders & buckets inside, etc.  So either the original owners are refurbishing/relaunching, or the place will be for lease again soon.

I'm more than hoping someone new will come in with a better/decent restaurant.

Whether due to its proximity to the Amtrak station or to a misguided sense of food quality, The Smokehouse's menu is full of expensive sandwiches. $12 for store-bought pulled pork and stale buns, not my idea of value. A friend ordered the rack of ribs, which he rightly described as "hammy." They were thick, pink ribs that came out lukewarm and still very attached to the bone. The wait staff was nice enough, but otherwise, the whole experience was a complete disappointment.

There's a more highly recommended barbecue place around the corner in Culpeper, but given that it was Easter Sunday, we were just happy to find a place open for a quick bite. In retrospect, I wish we had searched around a little more because The Smokehouse, despite its name, is definitely more of a bar than a restaurant. It's a natural step, from bar to pub, but not everyone can pull it off. The Smokehouse, in my experience, certainly does not. They prey on those willing to buy an overpriced beer by serving overpriced barbecue and sandwiches. If you want a place to watch a ball game and drink a beer, this is a fine choice. If you want to eat, drive around town a little more. Something better is nearby.

To end on a positive note, one wall of the bar is lined with arcade games: an Indiana Jones pinball machine, a Pirates of the Caribbean pinball machine, and best of all, two large-size Golden Tee games.

Had the pulled pork sandwich - had to add own bbq sauce.  Only okay.  Side salad was good.  Had to wait a few minutes to have my water glass refilled.  A bit expensive.