Blues, Beer and Barbecue

Have a hankering for BBQ? The D&A Smokehouse recently opened at 749 Central Park Ave and is well worth the trip. Walking into the small storefront near Men's Warehouse, you immediately realize this is the real deal. From the blues on the stereo, to the tin ceilings, it screams authentic BBQ, and D&A delivers. It is a small venue with about 6 tables and a 6-person bar. They offer takeout as well.

The menu is straight-forward, chicken, brisket, pulled pork and spare ribs. This is a meat-lovers paradise. Vegetarians should find another venue. D&A uses their own dry rub and everything is smoked on premises. Since the food is all freshly made they sometimes run out of select items. On a recent visit, there was no more chicken, which was just another reason to come back another day.

The BBQ is amazing. Pulled pork, brisket and spare ribs were all wonderfully done, juicy and tender. The dry rub comes through nicely and does not overwhelm the meat. Since it is dry rubbed, the meat is not covered in a sweet sauce as is some BBQ. If you want to add sauce, they have three tomato-based varieties that are made in-house. ... choose from mild, hot or a new beer-based sauce made with Broken Bow beer that is wonderful.

The four different meats are served on sandwiches, by the half or full plate or in combos if you have a large party or want to try different things. Be warned; you should be very hungry to order a large plate for yourself, but they make great choices for a larger party. Three large plates are plenty for a table of four. Sandwiches include smaller portions of meat served on a roll which is good for lunch or for those who don't want to gorge on a full plate of meat.

Good BBQ needs good side dishes and D&A delivers here as well. The sides follow the same "simpler is better" philosophy of the BBQ choices. The slaw is a required side for any BBQ aficionado – it's creamy and freshly made with ample pepper. There are also garlic "dirty" mashed potatoes, smoked baked beans, Mac and cheese and potato salad and of course traditional corn bread However, on a recent visit, they were out of corn bread too. It's baked daily and delicious when available.

BBQ would not be complete without a good selection of beer, and D&A has 3 craft beers on tap. The night we visited they were serving Eastchester's Broken Bow Pale Ale, Bronx Brewery seasonal --a roasty porter -- and a Lagunitus IPA from California. They also had an impressive craft bottle list and a wine list for those who have not yet discovered the pleasures of craft beer.

In all, D&A Smokehouse is a great place for any BBQ lover. Authentic BBQ served with proper sides, a great beer selection and blues playing on the stereo. Hard to go wrong with the simple "nothing fancy" menu. l. Highly recommended.

D&A Smokehouse
749 Central Park Avenue
Scarsdale, NY, 10583
(914) 725-6400
dnasmokehousebbq.com

Open Tuesday - Friday 11:30 am - 9 pm
Saturday 1 pm – 9 pm
Sunday 1 pm – 8 pm
Closed Mondays