Smoke BBQ

Like all other tourist capitals of the world, St. Petersburg has cafes, bars and restaurants to suit any taste. On hot summer days, the centre is all outdoor seating. Tired tourists, looking for a place to relax, are often overwhelmed by the multitude of options. Sputnik explored the culinary map of the city on the Neva.

Location: 11 Rubinstein Street, St. Petersburg

Average bil: PPPP

Cuisine: American/Mexican

Tel.: [phone]

Open: Monday-Thursday noon-midnight, Friday noon-2 am, Saturday 10 am-2 am, Sunday 10 am-midnight

Smoke BBQ, a cozy Texas-style restaurant near Nevsky Prospekt and the Moyka River, is ideal for meat lovers. Prior to opening a decade ago, the owners spent three years studying with the best barbecue masters in the US. They also had a huge smoker specially built for them in the US, in which up to 400 kg of meat can be smoked simultaneously. It doesn’t require electricity. The smoker is fueled by birch wood.

Cooking meat in that device is not easy: there is no simple formula when you just set the timer and that’s all – no, you have to carefully determine whether the meat is done each time.  Meat is smoked for up to 10-15 hours at 135 degrees Celsius. A mobile grill for on-site events is also available.

The Black Angus beef used in Smoke BBQ’s specialty, Texas brisket, is supplied from the Voronezh Region. The marbled beef is rich in intramuscular fat that dissolves during cooking, making the meat juicy and tender. The meat is not marinated, only rubbed in the traditional Texas seasoning – sea salt and Indian pepper. The brisket comes with specialty toppings: bourbon-marinated cucumbers, onions marinated in beetroot and hot jalapeno pepper.

Also try the homemade rump roast marinated in herbs for 45 minutes and baked. It is served on a bed of nachos. For a large group, Smoke BBQ recommends the barbeque tray: juicy pork ribs, Texas brisket, handmade pork and beef specialty sausages with cheddar cheese, and assorted sides.