By Jacob Mathias

A new barbecue restaurant on Stevens Point’s north side is seeing a lot of traffic.

Smokehouse BBQ opened at its 301 Division St. location on Sept. 26, and owner Ryan Pollard said they’ve been busy ever since. The restaurant features a variety of smoked meats including rib tips, brisket, pulled pork, salmon racks of ribs alongside traditional barbecue sides like coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans and macaroni and cheese.

The pulled pork box meal from Smokehouse BBQ. (City Times photo)

The food isn’t fancy, but it’s delicious.

The pork was juicy, tender and nicely smoked, but not overpowered with smoke or seasonings. The garlic barbecue sauce was tangy and bright with vinegar, not sticky and full of brown sugar. The cornbread added a nicely sweet counterpart to the salty, smoky meat and baked beans.

Pollard said the rib tips have been the best-seller by far, followed by the brisket.

This is the second location for Smokehouse BBQ, which first opened in Mosinee in May 2016.

After working at the Waupaca Foundry for 10 years, Pollard decided it was time to use his knowledge of barbecue and bring something new to the area’s restaurant scene.

“Stevens Point needed something different besides fast food. We’re bringing down-home cooking,” he said.

Pollard learned how to smoke meat with his family, who are natives of Tennessee. The restaurant’s meats are smoked with a combination of hickory and alder wood.

“I grew up learning the art and I brought it up here,” said Pollard. “There’s nothing here like it.”

Smokehouse BBQ is open from 11 AM to 9 PM Sunday through Thursday and 11 AM to 3 AM on Friday and Saturday. They can be reached for delivery or catering orders at 715-544-1955 starting Tuesday, Oct. 17.