Riverside Smoke House & Grill

The Riverside Smoke House & Grill is nestled away in the quaint metal warehouse district of Canton, Missouri.  On a cold and gray Autumn day in early November, the cozy confines of the Smoke House was a great getaway for some great BBQ.  Cozy being the key word, because the booths were pretty small.  Not really that big if a deal, unless you bring three of your grown-up friends.  In that case, just sit at a table, or at the bar.    

I'm a big fan of BBQ, in particular Memphis style, and in recent months I've sampled great brisket from Beale Street all the way to east coast... So when I heard there was some good BBQ right here in my back yard, I hit the road, mading the quick trip up Highway 61.

Right off the bat, there are great daily specials, including appetizers.  So we kicked it off with some potato skins.  If you like potato skins, you're in luck.  If you like bacon, you've hit the jackpot.  It's a cheesy bacon boat.  Good stuff.  The salad is great too.  All a sinister plot to fill you up before getting to the delicious BBQ.  Well, maybe not a sinister plot, but it does make for a filling meal.  

The BBQ brisket sandwich was good.  A great BBQ sauce makes for a great BBQ sandwich, and the Riverside Smoke House gives you a variety of sauces right there at the table.  The sauce that comes on the sandwich is decent, with a sweet taste.  It didn't really stand out like some sauces I've tasted but it wasn't bad.  I didn't try any of the 5 different sauces on the table, so I suppose this review isn't as all-encompassing as it could or should be.  What stood out to me was the smoky flavor of the meat.  With my belly full of appetizers, I had difficultly tearing through the large version of the sandwich, so I did what any good carnivore would do, and went around the bun.  

The BBQ chicken sandwich looked tender and delicious.  From what I heard, it tasted just as good.  I was also told that the Three BIG Pigs sandwich - constructed from copious amounts of bacon, smoked pork, and grilled ham - was known to cause temporary chest pains in the fittest of man - - but in a good way. 

Oh, and the fries are good too.  Always good to have good fries to compliment a meal.  

Looking at the menu, there are all kinds of great deals depending on the day.  Check out the menu at the Smoke House's home page.   Besides being a good place to eat, it's a good place to hang out.  The bar was filled with guys from up the on hill at Culver-Stockton College, in to watch the game. 

Any cold and gray day sucks, but it made Canton seemed a little bit like a zombie movie on the day I went.  At least on the side of  town east of 4th Street, I'm not saying anything about the rest of Canton, it's fine I'n sure.  The Riverside Smoke House was a nice afternoon getaway.  The eats were good.  It's hard for me to compare because I'm subconsciously comparing it to Memphis BBQ. That goes for most BBQ I eat.  But it's nice to have something like this so close to home.  I've heard a rumor of an expansion to Quincy, but I've heard the same rumor shot down, because it would draw business away from the spot in Canton.  So make the drive.

See the menu, daily specials, events, directions, and contact info at Riverside's web site.  HERE