A Patio Barbecue Stop at Taino Smokehouse in Middletown

Beside an Ace Hardware store in Middletown, Taino Smokehouse makes an unlikely-looking barbecue stop. Then the scent from the pit reaches the parking area, and the setting begins to make more sense.

Inside, the dining room is compact. The surprise is around the side and back: a considerably larger outdoor area with patio seating, picnic tables and hanging lights, giving the place room to settle into a meal instead of treating barbecue as a quick roadside errand.

The menu has the proper smokehouse foundation—brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, ribs, smoked corned beef and chicken wings—but it does not stop at the standard platter-and-sides formula. There are egg rolls, burgers, fried chicken, shrimp, generous sandwiches and enough side dishes to turn ordering into a pleasant little puzzle.

Brisket is a natural place to begin. It arrives smoky, tender and full-flavored, the sort of meat that works simply with a few sides but also gets put to use elsewhere on the menu.

The Philly brisket sandwich is one of those departures worth noticing. Smoky brisket and cheese make it a richer, juicier alternative to a basic barbecue sandwich, with enough meat to keep the cheese from taking over.

Ribs and pulled pork are also central orders here. The pulled pork fits comfortably into the classic sandwich-and-slaw route, while the ribs offer a more hands-on plate for a longer patio lunch.

Pulled chicken provides another option for diners who want barbecue without committing to brisket or pork. It appears in sandwiches and other preparations, so a mixed table can sample several corners of the menu without everyone ordering the same thing.

Smoked corned beef is an especially welcome curveball on a barbecue menu. It suggests a kitchen that is willing to treat the smoker as more than a machine for the usual regional greatest hits.

The barbecue egg rolls are not a dainty appetizer to split before the main event. They are substantial, distinctively filled and capable of becoming the meal for someone who wants to graze rather than tackle a full platter.

Chicken bites bring a crisp, well-seasoned contrast to all that slow-smoked meat. One version comes with house-made sweet chili sauce, adding a sweet-spicy direction that is more snack-bar fun than traditional smokehouse fare.

Fried chicken also gets its own attention, with a crisp exterior and sweet glaze. Paired with the restaurant's comfort-food sides, it makes a convincing case for bypassing barbecue entirely on one visit and coming back for it later.

Chicken wings offer yet another route: smoked and then deep-fried. That double treatment gives them smoke underneath and crisp texture on the outside, a useful choice for the table that wants something to pick at with a drink.

Seafood has a small but notable place on the menu, too. Alabama shrimp and Cajun shrimp with fries provide a change of pace, and shrimp is also available for takeout.

Mac and cheese is one of the strongest reasons not to rush through the sides list. Creamy, cheesy and more distinctive than the obligatory scoop that so often accompanies barbecue, it can hold its own next to assertively smoked meat.

The sharper sides keep the plate from becoming too rich. Spicy cabbage and jalapeño-tinged slaw bring bite and heat, useful companions for pulled pork, brisket or fried chicken.

Collard greens offer a more traditional Southern note, while both garlic mashed potatoes and regular mashed potatoes add the comforting, fork-friendly weight many people want on a barbecue plate.

Warm cornbread comes sweet and moist, a small but very satisfying detail beside savory meats and greens. Baked beans, sweet potato fries and house-made potato chips widen the choices further.

The potato chips have their own appeal, especially when paired with house-made blue cheese dressing. It is the sort of small accompaniment that can disappear from the table before anyone has fully decided who ordered it.

For diners who think in burger terms first, the smokehouse burger and burgers built with brisket and pulled pork offer a familiar format with barbecue worked into the middle. They are useful options when one person wants a sandwich in a bun and another is planning a rib plate.

Sweet tea is an easy nonalcoholic match for the smoky, salty and spicy parts of the menu. A mango wheat ale has also been a particularly compatible beer choice, bringing a little fruitiness alongside the heavier food.

Banana pudding is the dessert to save room for. It is a memorable, old-school finish after a tray of smoked meat and sides, while oversized cookies give takeout orders an easy extra to carry home.

The patio is what makes the small indoor footprint feel misleading. Picnic tables and other outdoor seating spread the meal out into a relaxed, low-key space where people can sit with a full tray rather than feeling pressed to finish and move along.

Hanging lights add a bit of visual character to the outdoor area without turning it into a fussy destination. The atmosphere is generally easygoing and quiet enough for conversation, with full service available outside.

The exterior seating has also been described as dog-friendly, a useful detail for people traveling through town with a four-legged passenger. The outdoor area is not merely overflow seating; it is where much of the visit opens up.

A free parking lot with plentiful spaces makes Taino Smokehouse easy to fold into a drive through Middletown. Its hardware-store-adjacent location may look unusual at first, but it also makes the restaurant pleasantly straightforward to find.

The restaurant works both as a patio meal and as a takeout stop. Barbecue, sandwiches, chili, sides and desserts have all made the trip home well enough to support ordering a little extra for later.

Friendly, helpful service helps newcomers sort through the broad menu, particularly when the choice is between a classic smoked-meat plate, a brisket sandwich, fried chicken or one of the less expected starters. The most enjoyable strategy may be to choose a barbecue anchor, add a side or two with some personality, and leave room for banana pudding.