Cozily situated and reminiscent of Frank Underwood’s favorite refuge, DCity Smokehouse is D.C.’s newest barbecue joint helmed by Hill Country’s former pitmaster Rob Sonderman.
This tiny hole-in-the-wall is definitely geared toward takeouts. And though there’s a small bench to the right of the counter that can situate up to five people, it almost feels like it was an afterthought.
Anybody who decides to stay in and sit to enjoy their meal may feel like an imposition on the cashier and cooks who, in this small barbecue dig, may as well be standing right behind your back. That being said, the staff is very quick and helpful, which are definitely pluses in any restaurant’s books.
With the ambiance essentially nonexistent, the only thing this smokehouse can rely on is its food and its barbecue chops.
The actual barbecue sauce is quality—it’s hard to deny that. But it’s also hard to ignore the simplicity of the menu and the preparation of the sandwiches.
For instance, the torta, with its Mexican twist, takes the form of a classic ciabatta roll stuffed with chicken, avocado, and feta cheese. The chicken is succulent and well-cooked and the avocado is certainly an interesting touch you don’t always see in a barbecue house. But overall, this bird doesn’t fly. The strong taste of cilantro overpowers the entire sandwich and the oil from the chicken soaks through the bread, causing it to fall apart at the touch.
But then came the fries. Oh, the fries. Let me just say that I am a lover of fries, and a French fry connoisseur if there ever was one. The fries were neither crispy nor soft, neither thick nor thin. They were like cut up potatoes with an identity crisis.
Thankfully, the hush puppies just might save the entire sides menu. Fried to perfection, with a crisp coating and a soft corn-bread-like center, these puppies sing their own praises.
But, truthfully, I’d say if you were in the area and felt like barbecue, yeah, definitely go. But don’t trek across the city for this with the goal of trying the best barbecue of your lifetime, because that, DCity Smokehouse is not.
8 Florida Ave., NW
Tuesday – Saturday, 12 pm – 8 pm
