In this city, restaurants come and go faster than you can say "sustainable locavore burger." And even though there are great new additions to the culinary landscape popping up every week, you've gotta give kudos to anyone who can stick it out for over a year. With that in mind, we bring you Still Got It, our tribute to establishments that continue to serve mouthwatering meals and drinks long after the buzz has faded—or if the lingering hype is still justified.
Barbecue spot The Smoke Joint got a lot of buzz when opened in Fort Greene back in 2006, with bloggers and food critics praising its tasty meats and sides. And seven years later, the no-frills restaurant stands up to the hype, serving top-notch barbecue and beer to crowds of neighborhood locals and post-BAMgoers night after night, from its modest but bustling space located just off the Fulton G and Lafayette C stops.
The Smoke Joint's menu is simple, and you won't find a lot of fancy options beyond the basic meat dishes and soul food sides. But here, you can't go wrong with just a slab of barbecued steak and a cup of mac and cheese, though they offer plenty of other hearty options, too. Try the tender, tangy pulled pork sandwich ($8), served on a buttery roll with slaw and pickles; the smoked chicken ($8 for a half, $14 for a whole) and thick beef short ribs slathered in house barbecue sauce ($16) are worth a try, too. As for sides, cornbread is just a buck; you can go for the sweet "smoky" collard greens ($4), or the restaurant's speciality, $6 mac and cheese made with thick noodles and rich, creamy and baked four-cheese sauce.
The Smoke Joint also serves cheap beer, like canned Dale's Pale Ale ($4) or Blue Point lager ($6); for the tee-totaling set, they serve the full gamut of Dr. Brown's sodas, including (shudder) cel-ray for $2. And though service can be gruff and waits are usually long (go for takeout on nights after big BAM performances), the restaurant draws everyone from big families to couples on dates; try to snag a table by the window, and watch passersby as you fall into a very satisfied food coma—BYO defibrillator.
The Smoke Joint is located at 87 South Elliot Place in Fort Greene, Brooklyn (718-797-1011, bcrestaurantgroup.com/tsj).
