Midwood Smokehouse meats expectations, brings southern-style BBQ to Raleigh
If you’re in search of your next barbeque fix, look no further.
Midwood Smokehouse recently opened up a new location on West Johnson Street near downtown Raleigh.
Midwood Smokehouse Head Chef Mark Rodriguez said the BBQ restaurant uses a lot of different barbecuing techniques for their menu.
“We try to offer a little bit of everything,” he said. "We do brisket, we do Texas style [BBQ], we do North Carolina style [BBQ], we do the pulled chicken tossed in a mustard sauce, which is very much a South Carolina thing."
He started as a dishwasher at 19 years old and worked his way up to head chef.
“I just kind of worked my way up," he said. "I started as a 19-year-old kid looking for a job."
Midwood originally opened up shop in Charlotte. At the beginning of 2023, the barbeque restaurant made the move to Raleigh, and Rodriguez decided to come along.
“[Raleigh] reminds me of where Charlotte was 10 years ago," he said.
Located in the new Smoky Hollow development, Midwood Smokehouse is tucked into a trendy and quickly growing area near downtown Raleigh.
Rodriguez gets in at 6 a.m. every morning to start preparing for the day.
The meat is cooked in a fire stove that uses only North Carolina hickory and burns 24/7.
All of the meat – the ribs, pulled pork and brisket – was delicious.
It reminded me of being back home in St. Louis, eating a barbeque dinner with my family and enjoying the ribs my dad spent all day smoking in our backyard.
The Saint Louis style pork ribs were by far my favorite.
As a native St. Louisan, I can say they were some of the best ribs I’ve ever had – maybe even as good as my dad's.
The outdoor patio is perfect if you’re wanting to enjoy a delicious meal on a beautiful spring day.
Even if you just want to stop by for a drink, they have an outdoor bar where you can sit and enjoy a refreshing cocktail on a hot day.
I liked all of the cocktails, but my favorite was the strawberry cilantro margarita. They were all very light and refreshing, which makes them perfect for summer.
However, you may regret not grabbing a bite.
Being from the Midwest, the skillet corn bread was another favorite of mine. It had just enough sweetness, and it’s even more delicious if you decide to drizzle some honey on top.
Queso lovers will be happy to know the menu includes a rich Tex-Mex housemade queso. As a fellow queso enthusiast, I loved how thick and rich the texture was.
Midwood Smokehouse is perfect if you’re craving comfort food or a home-cooked meal.
Check out their menu or stop by and try it yourself.
If you aren't in the mood to dine in, you can order food to go and pick it up at the outdoor counter.
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