Get Together

I was heading down Rideau St to the Byward Market Friday night. Despite the ubiquity of restaurants, its touristy status means that most places in this popular Ottawa area are not that intriguing. The Smoque Shack, located in a non-descript house on York St., seemed to offer something different. But the hipster-chic facade led to a typical bar in the front, and strictly utilitarian tables at the back. These were crammed cheek to jowl to accomodate the large crowd of pragmatically dressed Ottawans.

On the menu were all manners of bbq meats and some venture into ethnic cuisine with Jerk pork and chicken. I ordered the 1/2 lb beef brisket ($16) and a side-order of greens ($6). Both dishes were average but not outstanding. The slightly sweet bbq sauce was bold and not subtle. The brisket was tender but dry. Kale and swiss chard were supposedly also "bbq"-ed. Nevertheless, they were not sufficiently cooked to really bring out the flavour, remaining rather green and fibrous. An adequate but pedestrian option in the heart of downtown Ottawa.