Smoke and Porter Public House

Brian VanVoorst 4 months ago

I don’t normally leave negative reviews but I am really disappointed with my takeout order. These “ribs” never should have been served, I won’t speculate as to why they were - I would think they had better pieces to choose from. Biting off the meat the bone disintegrated and came with it but you couldn’t tell the bone from the dried meat. I am not saying that this is representative of S&P, I have had good meaty juicy ribs before, I am saying these pieces shouldn’t have been served. They were exceedingly dry and my guess is old too. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. I am local and want S&P to be a success and will take this review down in exchange for a better meal another evening or a refund.

Chris Johnson 4 months ago

An absolute gem just a few blocks from our hotel. Even with limited seating that evening due to unexpected staffing shortages, the team handled everything with professionalism and care. The back-of-house staff truly went above and beyond to ensure guests still had an outstanding experience, and it absolutely showed. The food was phenomenal — every dish was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully prepared. The cocktails were equally impressive, unique, and expertly crafted. What stood out most was the level of attentiveness and hospitality from start to finish despite the challenges they were facing. Experiences like this are what make dining in Traverse City so memorable. We will absolutely be back on our next visit!

Matthew Hennessy 5 months ago

Exterior is nothing exciting, you’d likely drive past it because of it. Inside is done beautifully. The two waitstaff were fantastic. Not pushing but knew every drink, menu item backward and forward. We got the fish and chips and the pulled pork with ribs. Both meals were amazing. I was tempted to ask for a bucket of the fermented vegetables that came with the pork, they were amazing. About five minutes from downtown and 10 minutes from Grand Traverse Resort. Good food. Good prices. Great staff. We would go again when we are in town.

Jason Kustra 8 months ago

We arrived at the end of the night and there was a snowstorm so there was only another couple. The service was great and the staff were fun to interact with. I had the shirt rib that was the special for the day. It was delicious and smoky but the only thing I would have changed was that it needed a pan sauce ass the exterior was a bit dry and the carrot puree was somewhat bland. My GF had the BBQ plate and that didn't seem like a great value for the amount you get. My only suggestion about the interior is that it was COLD in there. For a smokehouse, a fireplace would make the perfect addition to the ambiance. We'll definitely go back!

Alejandro Telo a year ago

This was our first time visiting Traverse City, and we were looking for a BBQ spot for lunch. The restaurant turned out to be a great choice—the food and atmosphere were both very good. Everything is made from scratch (our waiter joked, ‘except the ketchup and the buns’). We tried the pulled pork, which was tender and tasty, and the sides with the ‘pit version’ had a nice gourmet touch. Next time we’re in town, we’ll definitely be back to try the ribs.