BIG SALE - Up to 50% off food & beverage items - Free shipping on orders over $65
Review: Noble Smoke – Really Good Barbecue in Charlotte, NC
Steve was on a work trip to Charlotte, and managed to squeeze in a visit to Noble Smoke, a place known for excellent barbecue. He was lucky and got invited backstage to see the barbecue pits. Here is his post about the experience:
Steve: When you’re in Charlotte and someone tells you to check out Noble Smoke, listen to them. Five years in, Noble Smoke is clearly hitting its stride. One location, plus a small satellite spot that serves food out of the main kitchen. The owner, chef Jim Noble, is something of a Charlotte restaurant heavyweight. He runs several other concepts around town, but Noble Smoke is his only barbecue joint.
Apparently the owner traveled around to learn about the different barbecue styles. He studied at Franklin Barbecue – a super famous place in Texas known for its brisket. Super simple – just salt pepper and smoke. They also trim the briskets very specifically and I saw the same type of process at Noble. And the pit master I chatted with confirmed they use what they learned at Franklin. Very very good brisket.
Ok. The brisket was excellent. Well smoked. Held together but broke with a push of a fork. Still moist.
Pork – also excellent. Moist, tender and luscious. Really great quality – and married very well with the two vinegar based sauces.
The real surprise was the sides. The fried corn was fresh and delicious. Smoked, cut off the cob then lightly fried. Maybe some salt and pepper but the sweet corn came through. Good sweetness and nice soft crunch.
Brussel sprouts!! So much better than typical. First and foremost the were both nicely charred but not mushy! Nicely firm. Not drowned in bacon or oil or anything else. Just the sprouts done absolutely correctly. And the somewhat spicy dipping mayo was perfect.
The front desk person at the hotel confirmed – she loves the Brussels as well, and sometimes orders them just to get the sauce! I should have tried it on the pork, but didn’t think of it.
Bottom line: Noble Smoke lives up to the hype. It’s focused, dialed in, and absolutely worth the stop if you’re in Charlotte.
Noble Smoke, 2216 Freedom Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208, United States
Welcome to Mitzie Mee - My blog about food, travel, and everything New York City.
-
The Burmese Banana Coconut Wraps are one of my favorite sweet treats from Tea Garden in Mae Sot. In Myanmar, the wraps with banana and coconut are typically enjoyed after …
-
Steve was on a work trip to Charlotte, and managed to squeeze in a visit to Noble Smoke, a place known for excellent barbecue. He was lucky and got invited …
-
Disclaimer: My visit was by invitation from La Farine. All opinions are my own. The Upper West Side is full of cute little gems, and one of them is La …
-
I always choose homemade popsicles over the store-bought ones. The ones you get in the store are usually packed with sugar and don’t really taste like fruit. When you make …
-
It was a dark and rainy night, and Steve and I were in the mood for some serious comfort food. We ended up at NR on the Upper East Side. …
-
On our last trip to London, Steve and I had afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason. The legendary Piccadilly department store, known for fine foods, teas and luxury goods, has …
-
Ngam Ngov (pickled lime soup) is a traditional Cambodian soup made with pickled lime. The pickled lime is a common ingredient in many Cambodian dishes and adds a tangy, slightly …
-
On a previous trip to Tokyo, I had the pleasure of catching up with an old friend of mine, Rieko. We first met almost 10 years ago, when I did …
-
Grilled corn ears are popular street food in Mexico, and one of the things I always order, if I’m at a Mexican restaurant and I see the corn on the …
-
One night, before heading to a Broadway show, Steve and I stopped by See No Evil, a tiny pizza restaurant tucked away below street level, inside the 50th Street subway …
-
This guacamole recipe comes from Steve’s brother Dave, who has a guacamole tree in his garden (yes, really). With almost unlimited access to avocados, he’s perfected this chunky, flavor-packed version …
-
I love pho, but I don’t love spending hours cooking the delicious Vietnamese soup, so sometimes I cheat and make a not-from-scratch version. If you’re using pho cubes or paste, …
Travel Blog
Mitzie Mee©
hello@mitziemee.com