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: If you’re in Charlotte and someone tells you to check out Noble Smoke, listen. Five years in, the place seems to have really found its stride. There’s the main restaurant and a smaller satellite spot that serves food from the same kitchen. The owner, chef Jim Noble, is something of a heavyweight on the Charlotte restaurant scene. He runs several other concepts around town, but Noble Smoke is his only barbecue restaurant.
Before opening Noble Smoke, Jim Noble apparently spent time traveling around the US to learn about the different regional barbecue styles. One of the places he studied was Franklin Barbecue in Texas, which is legendary for its brisket. Their philosophy is very simple: salt, pepper, and smoke. They also trim the briskets in a very particular way, and I noticed the same kind of process at Noble Smoke. When I chatted with one of the pitmasters, he confirmed that a lot of what they do is inspired by what Noble learned at Franklin.
And the brisket really was excellent. Beautiful smoke, tender but not falling apart, and still nice and juicy. The kind of brisket that holds together but gives way easily with a fork.
The pork was just as good. Moist, tender, and full of flavor. It paired especially well with the two vinegar based sauces they serve on the side.
What really surprised me, though, were the sides. The fried corn was fantastic. Fresh corn cut off the cob, smoked, then lightly fried. Maybe just a little salt and pepper, but the natural sweetness of the corn really came through, with a nice soft crunch.
And the Brussels sprouts were outstanding. Perfectly charred but still firm, not mushy at all. Not drowned in bacon or oil or anything else. Just Brussels sprouts cooked exactly the way they should be. They came with a slightly spicy dipping mayo that worked really well.
Later, the woman at the front desk at my hotel confirmed it. She loves the Brussels sprouts too, and sometimes orders them just to get the sauce. In hindsight, the sauce probably would have been great with the pork as well, but I didn’t think of it at the time.
Bottom line: Noble Smoke absolutely lives up to the hype. It’s focused, dialed in, and definitely worth a stop if you’re in Charlotte.
Noble Smoke, 2216 Freedom Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208, United States
