For the sixth straight year, October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com, presented by Concordia University. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, delectable features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food, as well as the winners of our "Best of Dining 2012."
Your votes are in, Milwaukee, and you have selected the winners of OnMilwaukee's Best Dining 2012. We're announcing the results of this readers' poll, including our editors' pick, in a series of articles that run all October long during Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com.
Bigger isn't always better: this year, the new Smoke Shack (capacity: 47 diners) was voted the best barbecue in Milwaukee by OnMilwaukee.com readers.
Located at 332 N. Milwaukee St., Smoke Shack burst onto the scene only several months ago in February of 2012. Owned by Joe and Angie Sorge, in partnership with Marcus Investments, (the couple also own Water Buffalo, AJ Bomber's and Swig), the restaurant was originally set to open in 2010. Diners seem to agree it was worth the wait - Smoke Shack was also the first runner-up in our Best New Restaurant category this year.
Enter this "shack" through a sliding barn door and enjoy community-style dining and a down-home atmosphere. Read Damien Jaques' story on Smoke Shack's opening here.
The menu features dry-rubbed and humanely-raised meats, a wide variety of sauces at each table, homemade cornbread and a killer bourbon selection. The owners say that they often sell out of favorite items, so if you're craving your Smoke Shack fix, you might want to get there early.
Meanwhile, the legendary Speed Queen BBQ on 12th and Walnut Streets came in second place and was also the OnMilwaukee.com editors' pick for this year.
OnMilwaukee.com editors' choice: Speed Queen
Runners-up:
2. Speed Queen
3. Maxie's Southern Comfort
4. Saz's
5. Pitch's
6. Ashley's Bar-B-Que
7. Jerry's Old Town
8. Silver Spur
9. Stubby's
10. Milwaukee Steakhouse
11. Five O' Clock Club
12. Jackson Grill
13. Swingin' Door Exchange
14. Harry's
15. Milwaukee Smoked BBQ
