In Hartford, CT, just down from my hotel, is Arch Street. Arch Street is home of a couple of restaurants. Ted’s Montana Grill, Capital Grill, Nixs, Qudoba, Infinity Hall, and Bear’s Smokehouse (address actually says Front Street). I’m a total sucker for BBQ, BUT I’m a total BBQ snob at the same time. My client told me Bear’s had fantastic BBQ, so I had to try it out.

Walking in you get hit with that unmistakable wood smoked BBQ smell. Tables and Booths all around. Bar off in a sectioned off space to the right. There is a wooden partition that herds you into the cafeteria style serving line. On the way to the front of the restaurant, there are some windows that give you a peek into the smokehouse. In the smoke house are some HUGE wood pellet, electronic temp controlled smokers. They also smoke meat for some other Bear’s locations at the Arch Street location. The Menu is quite simple, smoked meat, sides you’d expect to accompany smoked meat, and some dessert selections. All this is laid out on large TV screens above the cafeteria style serving line. Which I personally thing would be of better use with some baseball on, but they didn’t ask me so I guess it’s cool. I ordered, as I normally do at an unknown BBQ spot, pulled pork. If a place can’t do great pulled pork, there is no chance their other BBQ will be lights out. I Always order my pork  naked so I can get the full taste of the quality, without the sauce hiding any of the pork and dry rub flavor. 

The guy behind the counter grabbed a butcher paper covered silver pan (looked like a mini cookie sheet). Then he placed the butcher paper covered mini cookie sheet on a scale.  Then he grabbed a mountain, A MOUNTAIN, of pulled pork and put it on a cutting board and pulled it right there in front of God and everybody. I haven’t seen a BBQ joint do that before. He then heaped a generous portion of pulled pork on to the butcher paper covered mini cookie sheet. Then he slid the butcher paper cover mini cookie sheet down to the “Side Guy.” Side guy puts the sides on the butcher paper covered cookie sheet in a little black bowl. I got Mac & Cheese and then opted for dessert over a second side. I snagged an apple crisp. Went down to the register, paid, was handed my cup and my butcher paper covered mini cookie sheet, that was now occupied by wonderful porky goodness, mac and cheese and apple crisp. 

Now at the drink machine there is no Pepsi or Coke.  But there is root beer, extra pale ginger ale, sarsaparilla, orange, and cream soda as well as many more selections. All crafted by the same company (whose name in drawing a blank on). I grabbed a sarsaparilla and went and sat down. 

On the table was 4 sauces. A Ghost Pepper Sauce, Texas Pepper Sauce, a Hot Sriracha sauce and a Kansas City Sweet Sauce. Good thing I ordered my pork naked! All katchup based sauces I’m pretty sure. 

First things first, gotta try the pork with no sauce. I grabbed a chunk of pork pulled it apart. It came apart very easily, obviously cooked to near perfection! I took a bite of it and it was juicy and as Tender as a Lee Roy Parnell Moment (high five if you got that one). Fantastic BBQ, Bear’s Smokehouse!

Hot Sriracha does not belong on BBQ IMO, I’ll say that. The flavors just didn’t work for me, but to each their own I suppose. 

The Texas Pepper and Kansas City Sweet sauces were better than average. They were just really standard flavored sauces, but excellent sauces none the less. The Ghost Pepper sauce was spicy and wonderful with a bit of a vinegar kick. Just the way I like it! I ended up covering my pulled pork with it. A magic combination, Abbot and Costello level combo! 

The Mac and Cheese was the next thing I tried. It was very tasty with a nice garlic hit happening in there. Tons and tons of cheese in there too. 

The Apple crisp was great too not the most amazing apple crisp I’ve ever had, but I’m from the south so I’ve had some dang good ones. But for as far as northern apple crisps it was terrific! 

My sarsaparilla was great! All the sodas I took a taste of were great! I think the soda was self serve… I’m pretty sure. 

There are some wait staff that will grab you whatever you need after you sit down. Drinks from the bar, refills (if you ask for them), carry out boxes, that kind of stuff. 

All in all Bear’s Smokehouse was a pleasant surprise! They brought some southern BBQ flair to the Great White North as it became the day after. The walk back to the hotel was cold, but my belly was full of tasty BBQ so I can’t complain about some cold weather. 

Bear’s Smokehouse is located on Front Street in Hartford, CT. My meal cost me around $18 total.