Yankee Smokehouse in West Ossipee, NH - Best Ribs, Hands Down
Written: May 27 '06 (Updated Nov 05 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: awesome ribs, succulent meats, good sides, good kids menu, casual
Cons: if I order in the fries are cold by the time they get here
The Bottom Line: In all my travels, no place can match the food at Yankee Smokehouse.
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| AliventiAsylum's Full Review: Yankee Smokehouse |
Every summer when we used to visit the area I now live in, I would pass the Yankee Smokehouse. It's an inviting place sitting at the junction of two routes in the mountains of New Hampshire. No one else would want BBQ so we would pass it by. Finally when we were in the process of moving up here I had the chance to stop in with a buddy and it’s been a regular place for us since then.
The Yankee Smokehouse is on the corner of Routes 16 and 25 in West Ossipee. It's worth the half hour drive up from Lake Winnepesaukee or the same down from the North Conway area. From my house it's about a 20 minute drive. I usually have my husband stop there on his way up and bring us dinner if he’s arriving home early enough.
The atmosphere at Yankee Smokehouse is casual. Tables are covered in a red-checked tablecover and there are decorations on the wall to evoke the local flavor and happenings. In the summer there are picnic tables to eat at on the deck as well as inside. Everyone is welcome, from bikers to businessmen.
Yankee Smokehouse features southern-style bbq, featuring an open pit for cooking meats. The main dishes are chicken, beef, pork, ribs, and fish. I love to get a chicken and ribs combo, although the baby back ribs are also a favorite of mine. The dinners come in two sizes, small and large. The small features fries, cole slaw, garlic toast, and Yankee Smokehouse's own BBQ sauce. Large features a larger portion of the main dish and everything in the small size, plus BBQ beans.
The ribs here are the best I’ve ever had. They are succulent and juicy, almost falling from the bone. The chicken is always juicy and delicious. We’ve gone a few times at lunch and I’ve just ordered one of their sandwiches which are also very good. Sandwiches come with either fries, cole slaw, or BBQ beans. None of the food comes drowned in sauce, but there’s a bottle on the table. This way, everyone can add it to their own taste.
When we eat there, the famous Yankee Smokehouse BBQ sauce is on the table and I drown my sandwich in it or put extra on my ribs. The sauce is available for purchase, but we have gotten extra with meals we brought home and always seem to have plenty in our fridge from that.
Take out and catering are available. The night we moved up here we ordered two of their Smokehouse Feast to serve all the hungry people who helped us out. This is designed to serve 4 to 6 people and consists of a whole smoked BBQ chicken, a slab of smokehouse ribs, tender smoked sliced beef, lean & juicy sliced pork, crispy smokehouse fries, cole slaw, BBQ beans, corn-on-the-cob, garlic toast, and BBQ sauce. This is a great way to take care of a group of people with tasty food. The only problem I run into is that the fries tend to be cold by the time it arrives home. Everything else seems to hold the heat well or I can just reheat a little bit if I need it. I do look forward to leftovers and have often taken home a doggie bag when I do eat there.
There are also Dinners for Two which is what I usually have my husband pick up. We usually choose the Rib Sampler since, although I do like the chicken a lot, we would end up fighting over the ribs so it’s easier just to get all ribs. This also comes with the selection of sides.
The fries are tasty although I like it when they are hot. They aren’t seasoned which is nice for people who don’t like strong spicy tastes. I dip them in the BBQ sauce. The BBQ beans are excellent and also not too spicy. Everyone really enjoys the garlic toast and we usually don’t end up with enough. Finally, the cole slaw is some of the best I’ve had, not too creamy and not too runny.
Beer is served on tap and in the bottle at the Yankee Smokehouse. My favorite to order with my meal is Pigs Ear and if I’m in there with my business partner we split the pitcher between us.
A kid’s menu is available that covers everyone from the pickiest eaters to those who want to sample more of what the adults are having. I really like the variety available on the kids menu. We’ve gone there already and just ordered apple sauce and corn on the cob for my son, while my daughter enjoys the chicken fingers when we bring her there.
There are desserts, but to be honest I’ve never tried them. They are probably very good but I am always so full from my meal that I have no interest in them whatsoever.
Yankee Smokehouse has won awards throughout New England. New Hampshire Magazine awarded their corn chowder the Best in New Hampshire for 2004. It has also garnered favorable reviews in numerous magazines and newspapers throughout New England.
If you are in the area, be sure to stop here. Fans of BBQ will be delightfully surprised that there’s such good food in a remote place. Even if your family is not entirely sure they like BBQ, I would make the stop and try it out. There can be long waits around the prime eating hours, so be prepared for that or just order out like we do.
website: http://www.yankeesmokehouse.com
Other places to eat in New Hampshire:
Bea's Cafe, Conway NH ~ Cafe Noche, Conway NH ~ Decades Steakhouse, North Conway NH ~ Delaney‘s Hole in the Wall, North Conway NH ~ Harts Turkey Farm, Meredith NH ~ May Kelly's Cottage, North Conway NH ~ Merlino's Steakhouse, North Conway NH ~ Moat Mountain Smokehouse, North Conway NH ~ Muddy Moose, North Conway NH ~ Peach's Restauran, North Conway NH ~ Red Parka Steakhouse & Pub, Glen NH
Sites to see in New Hampshire:
Attitash Bear Peak Ski Resort ~ Bretton Woods Ski Resort ~ Canobie Lake Park ~ Cranmore Mountain Ski Resort ~ Franconia Notch State Park ~ Kancamagus Highway ~ King Pine Ski Resort ~ Loon Mountain Ski Resort ~ Madison Boulder Natural Area ~ Mount Washington Cog Railway ~ North Conway, NH ~ Polar Express Event ~ Shawnee Peak, Bridgeton ME ~ Six Gun City ~ Story Land ~ Whale's Tale Waterpark ~ White Lake State Park ~ White Mountain National Forest ~ Wildcat Mountain
Some places to stay in New Hampshire:
Attitash Mountain Village - Bartlett NH ~ Comfort Inn & Suites - North Conway NH ~ Hampton Inn - Concord/Bow NH ~ Yankee Clipper Motel
Books about the area:
Appalachian Mountain Club White Mountain Guide ~ 50 Hikes in the White Mountains
© 2006 Patti Aliventi
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Best Suited For: Friends
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AliventiAsylum
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Member: Patti Aliventi
Location: Mount Washington Valley, New Hampshire
Reviews written: 2132
Trusted by: 692 members
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Now writing reviews to pay for the "out of network" costs of our health insurance...
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