Smoke and Donuts
If you think about it, BBQ and Donuts isn’t that odd of a combo. After all, if you are anything like me, as soon as you’ve taken your last savory bite of food, you are already planning the sweet treat to enjoy afterward. At the newly opened Smoke and Donuts in the Milk District, you can have that sweet bite immediately after inhaling your BBQ Board and even customize it.
Husband and wife duo Ian and Juliana had differing ideas when they decided to pursue their place in the culinary world. One wanted BBQ, and one wanted artisan donuts. Personal marketing opinion inserted here: they could do a great job incorporating this backstory into their video marketing strategy to help people understand where Smoke and Donuts comes from, but I digress.
I was able to enjoy their food back in the summer of 2020 when ordering food was the only way we could try new spots in town. I was absolutely skeptical about a place that offered both, but I was pleasantly surprised that each item stood on its own.
Fast forward almost three years later and their brick and mortar is officially here, so here are the deets:
THE VIBE
They did a beautiful job with the space that used to house Encore Popcorn. I had been in that space before and thought it was much smaller, so it felt like they had opened it and brought brightness with fun pops of color. If you look at the window on the right side of the building, you will still see a somewhat faded popcorn logo that remains, which was a cute homage to the business that had been there for 17 years before.
I love seeing the bright pendant lights hanging from the ceiling before I even enter, and the overall feeling inside was happy and welcoming.
When you walk in, you order at the furthest part of the counter, so head to the back when you walk in. There, you can choose from sandwiches and BBQ Boards and view all of their donuts to select which looks the most appealing, or you can create your own.
THE FOOD
On this visit, I shared a board with my husband, as we had other food ventures taking place that day. We selected the pulled pork board with mac and cheese and the cucumber and cabbage slaw (they were out of green beans). When ordering the pulled pork, we were asked if we wanted Carolina or Texas style. It appears that the meat is already coming pre-sauced, something I wish you could opt out of so you can taste the flavor of the meat on its own and then proceed to play with sauces or determine if any were needed at all. Especially since my last encounter with them, the meat was so flavorful and juicy I didn’t even use the sauce that came with it. But maybe that’s just the case with the pulled pork, not other meats, so when you go, make sure to ask.
We also ordered the Signature Donut, which you’ll notice is the standout donut with the branded logo of Smoke and Donuts on it. It’s blood orange glaze, champagne sabayon, with meringue.
The pulled pork was tasty, but I didn’t see much value in adding more sauce, so I didn’t try anything from their sauce bar. As is usually the way with BBQ spots, the sides often struggle behind. I would have loved a more punchy flavor in the cucumber and cabbage salad, especially since this is something I make at home often and try to elevate with various sauces. The classic mac and cheese mentioned four kinds of cheese in the description, but it wasn’t incredibly flavorful, although it was rich and had a nice consistency. The cornbread, sadly, was not noteworthy at all. I truly loved the sides I had gotten before when I ordered their food to-go, especially the potatoes, so I think I will try some other sides next time.
The donut was delicious and had a soft, cakey texture without being dry. The one I ordered was particularly sweet, so I could only get through about two bites. That, however, is the great thing about being able to create your own, which I will be doing next time.
Should you go?
Yes! From a price perspective, it’s definitely in line with other BBQ joints, and the star of the show shouldn’t disappoint you. For my personal taste buds, overall, the meal was good, but not stop-the-presses-out-of-this-world, but I know what Smoke and Donuts is capable of, so I’m going back at some point for more after they’ve been open for awhile to try other menu items. From pulled chicken, brisket, turkey, sausage, and even a vegan option of tempeh, I think you’ll find something you will enjoy, and I hope that your sides treat you well.
I’ve also had their donut with the burnt ends on top, which was heavenly, so if you are a sweet and savory person, try that one.
THINGS TO KNOW
Parking is challenging, the lot is small, and I’ve heard of several people getting towed from parking at Se7enbites. If you can, try to go at off-peak times. If the parking lot is full, I have no idea where you can park other than in the Colonial Plaza Shopping Center and walk carefully across Primrose.
There is outdoor seating for those who are still mindful of that. It was hot on our weekend trip, but each table had an umbrella to help shade.
If you are a solo diner, there are window bar seats and a small bar. Speaking of the bar, Smoke and Donuts has beer and a cocktail menu.
The address is 601 N. Primrose, and they are closed Monday and Tuesday.
All food was paid for personally and not a part of any media promotion.