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Hi GUYS and Gals and a special thanks to Bud for the visit. We are open and doing great! People love the food and are fun.. We sold out of food the first night open... second night went well also .. last night we came close to running out of food. Yes we did have opening night gitters but we were well recieved. I'm not concerned about this guy that did the "review" actually people were looking, pointing and laughing at this guy. We had a line out the door. The only bad thing folks told us was that we didn't have a take out menu. I'm not going to dwell over one person's opinion. Debi, We are at 351 washington street.. the phone number is 617-254-JBBQ "5227" :) We were rocking the past few nights .. haven't advertised and we have been getting a full house.. What we wanted was a quiet opening so the kitchen staff could get up to par slowly. That didn't happen.. orders wern't sent out properly, The waitstaff were too busy taking orders and didn't pick them up quick enough. This problem has been solved.. I think the mad rush freaked out the help and they lost it .. we had a staff meeting both the front and back of the house. We told the waitresses to slow down and I told my kitchen help to read the ticket, plate the food one at a time .. The waitresses are to see if everything was on the plate before it leave the kitchen..." this didn't happen and the problem has been solved" As far as the kitchen help.. This guys "4 of them" never worked together before. This is why I wanted a quiet opening so they could get up to speed. If I had to look back and had the cash to train them before opening this may have helped, they only had one day in the kitchen. I have to tell you I told them I was proud of them and they held up well. Next night <thursday> things went better.. smoother and more of the the wrinkles irioned out.. <Friday> FANTASTIC.. I even had time to visit with some of the guest. I kept my cool and understood what the help was going through. They learned when to call out for the food.. for instance.. You don't call for the ribs until the fried are done .. The meat goes on the plate last. I told them it only takes 30 seconds to cut the ribs . brisket or whatever.. so give a 1 minute warning for the meat. Also we had computer glitches .. waitresses didn't have enough time to learn the computer and so one .. So as far as the review for a 1st night opening. what can I say .. I cheered for my staff, kept them cool headed .. one guy freaked and freaked out the rest... It's like if you piss off one bee in the hive the rest go crazy as well. This is what happens in a kitchen under pressure with a new and inexperienced crew. Had I lost it, It would have worked out as well as it did. I kept them calm and told them to focus on one order at a time and move onto the next. That being said.. Bud, Thanks again It wasa pleasure meeting you. You are in every essence a gentleman, My wife, son and staff really enjoyed your visit. I hope the rub works well for you. I'm also sorry about your pet poodle, It's sad to lose a family member.. Time to get in .. expecting a BIG night tonight. If you all get a chance .. stop in and say Hi..

Joe,

PS: Bud, I taped the 20 to the mirror .. It will be framed at some point and means alot to me.. I enjoyed your company and wish you could have visited longer ..
 
Debi,

It would really be nice to meet up with you and Jessie. I will keep you posted as to my plans for a run south. BTW, my farm, as it grows will be more of a gentleman's operation. I will run it, not it run me. Just a little something to help me through retirement when I get there!

Joe!

What can I say? Aces my man!

I well know the feeling of getting hit too hard before you are ready. You have the proper attitude and and I am sure the fortitude to make a go of this thing. Hang on my friend! It looks like you are in for one hell of a ride!

Cheers!
 
Well we didn't get a chance to find Joe tonight we sat in traffic in on RT 1 in Lynn and Revere for 3 hours without moving and didn't even hit our last stop then sat for another hour in "the big dig tunnel" which I was really not happy about and decided to just get home while we still had some light.

It's really tough for me to drive in the dark (cateracs) when I don't know where I am. Hopefully we'll get to find Joe's in daylight and get a feel for the area. I really and excited to meet you both!
 
Hi Deb, Sorry I missed you. We have been packed .. actually had a waiting line with a 15 minute wait. the take out is picking up and to think we haven't advertised yet, it's all word of mouth. I was thinking about that review that guy gave me. Some people have no idea what it actually takes to open a restaurant. Had I had the cash I would have liked to train the staff for a few weeks and then open. But as you know we had some major issues with the building and the money was drying up because of the extensive remodeling we had to do so we had no option but to open. I also would have liked it if I had time to make a transistion from construction to ordering the food and then cooking/smoking. we had 3 turn arounds sunday night between 5 and 8pm <seeing how we have 49 chairs> That's close to 150 meals, plus lots of take out. Who would have guessed. I'm off to do inventory and restocking .. I'm low on briskets, butts and catfish <actually low on everything except coffee> I hope to see you soon ...

Joe


Hey Bud, How did the rub work for you? Let me know .. I hope you and your wife "Tonto" are well..

Best wishes,
Joe
 
Joe, that's great news!! I am so happy for you and your wife... all that hard work is finally paying off! Can't wait to get up that way to see you guys.
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Looks like I will be able to get there on or about August 16 or 17. August 16 is a Vermont State holiday and the 17th will be a day off for me making it a long weekend. I have convinced a friend or two to make the trek with me. Not yet set in stone but looks like my best shot betwixt and between the rest of my schedule.

Looking at a daylight visit, late afternoon, and return to Vermont by next AM!

Again, Joe and Wendy you folks have done an awesome job putting all this together. Looking forward to getting there and sampling your wares! And most importantly raising a beer to your continued succes in business and in love!

Debi, I look forward to meeting you and Jessie! Stay tuned for final confirmation on those dates!

Cheers All!
 
Joe -

I am so glad everything is going so well. Word of mouth is the best advertizing! I have a few forums with people lined up and ready to go. I also know quite a few people from all around the general area of Boston who are promising to head in there.


Monty -

Obviously Friday would be better for me but I think I could get either day off with some notice. I' ready!
 
Debi!

Plans are still very flexible!

Will keep you posted!

Be prepared for pics, jokes, and whatever happens....happens!
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Cheers!
 
way to go joe- congrats. if your like me ya can do all the prep in the world but there's just some kind of satisfaction putting out fires & making it happen on the fly....but then i thrive off of stress.
 
Hey Gypsyseagod,
We've been having fhe past fewer fires days so I have been focusing on the product. We've been doing fantastic, the kitchen staff has calmed down and have been working as a team on both shifts.
I even have some free time mingle with out guests. We're getting lots of compliments on the BBQ as well as our sauces. Takeout orders are picking up as well as the dining in crowd. The sales have been steady and have been climbing some. The folks I have spoken to have told me that they will bring friends back with them. A guy was in last saturday from NH, he drove 70 miles that day.. well he was back yesterday with a friend so I guess that's a good thing when someone would drive 70 miles to your place to eat. We've had guest from Tn, Va and Fla who really enjoyed the Q also. One table of 3 from Tn said he loved that sauce and I nailed it, He said the only thing it was missing was the "Fried Okra" .. and he said he'll be back as well. The waitstaff have had no complaints about the food, nothing but praise. It looks like we settled down some and the smoke is beginning to clear. This weekend looks like a promising one. I've been putting in lots of hours until I get the staff trained. The wife and son are happy as well. Folks have been asking will I be selling my sauce. We tell them in time we will but as of now we're trying to keep the restaurant supplied with enough. I've been making 3 gallon batches of one sauce every 3 days and that's just one sauce and we have 6 sauces on the menu. <serving size of the sauce is about 3oz per order> I have to get going, Time to make the sauce. :)

Smoken' Joe
 
Lovin' every minute of it, eh? I am absolutely delighted that the place is hopping!

I have sent a friend from Vermont to you and she will be bringing several folks from the area. Told her to tell you that "Monty sent us".

I still plan on the middle of next month for my visit. We'll see how fate handles it!

Best wishes
and
Cheers!
 
Joe and family,
Just a thought... how about posting your zip code so that folks using MapQuest and other "Directions" software have a better chance of finding your place. Lord knows that Boston has a bazillion zip codes.
Cheers!
 
Nope! Brighton is Brighton and Boston is Boston but Smoken' Joe's is in Boston near Brighton.

Cheers!
 
Some what comfusing eh. I'm in Brighton Center. The full address is .. 351 Washington street, Brighton MA. 02135 (Free parking in the back of the building)

Joe
 
Joe , so glad to see that buisness is BOMMING!!!!! Fantastic, if anyone deserves it , it's you......Congratulations!!!!!
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Congratulations to you, Wendy and your entire team. I am so fortunate to have had a preview of your great Q and those great sauces. Great to hear that some one drove 70 miles to dine, shoot, I flew almost a 1,000 miles!......and plan to be back.

bud
 
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