If there is one thing that the Gate House Boyz (Twitter: @GateHouseBoyz), aka Bobby Warren and Dan Starcher, take seriously, it’s lunch. The topic of lunch usually comes up somewhere around 10 a.m., if not earlier. Luckily, there are a lot of places in Wooster to eat lunch, recently we finally made it to Smoke: The Burger Joint.
The restaurant boasts a truly American menu with traditional fare like burgers, fries and hot dogs. Everything is smoked to perfection, but menu items are available “unsmoked” if you prefer, and there are a few unique items to try on the test menu for those who are willing to experiment.
I decided to go with the Motown Coney, Rosemary Fries and, of course, Cheerwine to wash it all down with. The other half of the GateHouse crew went with the LA Classic Burger, Cajun Fries and a Cheerwine.
On an aside – If you have never tried Cheerwine, do not wait another second. Get to Smoke and try it! It has been a favorite in the south for years, but just recently appeared in Wayne County.
We asked to have our meals cut in half so we could sample each other’s meal – buffet style. For good measure, we ordered a serving of wings as well. If you have an appetite, Smoke: The Burger Joint is for you. The serving sizes are generous and the combinations will surprise you.
The Motown Coney featured a sauce like I have never seen, it included beans and rather large chunks of meat instead than ground beef. Needless to say, The Motown Coney scored a Billboard #1 hit with me.
The LA Classic Burger is about as classic as you can get, it comes loaded with lettuce, tomato, American cheese, pickles and onions. But, it doesn’t taste as ordinary as it sounds. The smoke flavor adds a different taste altogether.
So? What is a burger joint doing serving wings?
We don’t know either, but they were tasty! Big, bold and flavorful is how they are best summed up, we went with traditional Buffalo style. The @GateHouseBoyz concluded that they were the best wings we ever had without Bleu Cheese and celery. We either didn’t see where to add Bleu Cheese to our order or we forgot to look, so we went rogue and ate them plain.
Terms like “great,” “excellent,” “yummy” or “scrumptious” don’t do Smoke the justice it deserves. While they are true, Smoke: The Burger Joint is different, the smoke taste, the friendly service, the unique decor, it is not your typical grab n’ go burger place. It has a flavor all its own – and it has Cheerwine! We are looking forward to a return visit, soon!
