Picture: nycgo.com
Let me tell you something about Danny Meyer. Everything this man touches is exceptional. I don’t need to visit his restaurants in person to tell you that the food will be consistent, the service will be unparalleled, and the atmosphere will have been choreographed to make you feel like you cant wait to come back.
Blue Smoke is a departure from the high(er) end restaurants typically found in the Union Square Hospitality Group family. Both locations are spacious, loud and very casual. There is ample beer on tap, whiskey for days, and the atmosphere is laid back. You can enjoy the vibe for dinner, lunch, brunch, and even take yourself downstairs to their subterranean jazz club if the mood strikes.
The menu is packed with every southern comfort staple you would hope to find at your local barbecue watering hole. Executive chef Jean Paul Bourgeois was trained in fine dining but brought his Louisiana routes to this menu. Almost every dish will kill you and dammit there is nothing wrong with that. The fresh cornbread madeleines are excellent as are the warm chips with blue cheese and bacon dip. I dream of their spicy fried chicken served on biscuit dough and drowning in pimento cheese. Why isn’t everything on earth served with pimento cheese? Finally, as the name promises, they have plenty of smoked meat and you can combined endless combinations of porky goodness with every side dish your heart desires. Don’t miss the mac n cheese, it’s like crack in a bowl. Here’s what we had:
CORNBREAD MADELEINES
DEVILED EGGS
WARM BARBECUE POTATO CHIPS - Blue Cheese & Bacon Dip
BUTTERMILK BISCUITS - Daily Preservers
SMOKED TROUT SALAD - Butter Lettuce, Radish, Red Potatoes, Buttermilk Herb Dressing
CUSTARD FRENCH TOAST - Blackberry Syrup, Citrus Zest, Black Pepper Creme Fraiche
LAMB BELLY HASH - Pickled Sweet Peppers, Sunny Side Up Egg
BRIGHT-EYED BREAKFAST SANDWICH - Biscuit Doughnut, Fried Egg, Pimento Cheese, Spicy Fried Chicken
BLUE SMOKE BURGER - Grilled Bacon, Choice of Cheese, Choice of Side
MEAT AND 2 - Ribs, Burnt Ends, Baked Beans, Mac n Cheese
MEAT AND 2 - Pulled Pork, Grits, Potato Salad
BLOODY MARY
