Warm cornbread with maple butter is a fine way to begin a barbecue meal, and it has become one of the calling cards at Yankee Smokehouse. The cornbread arrives sweet and warm, with maple butter that adds a distinctly New England note before the ribs, brisket and pulled pork take over the table.
Yankee Smokehouse is the sort of easygoing stop that works neatly into a drive toward the North Conway area. Travelers can settle in for a full dinner, pick up takeout, or make a casual lunch out of a sandwich and a side. The menu is broad enough that a table does not have to agree on one style of barbecue to eat well.
Start with a platter and see what the smoker is doing
The sampler platters are the sensible choice for anyone who has trouble picking one meat. They commonly bring together pulled pork, brisket, ribs and chicken, giving the table a useful tour of the smokehouse without turning dinner into a series of separate orders.
The meats are joined by the familiar, welcome barbecue supporting cast: fries, coleslaw, baked beans, corn on the cob and garlic toast. It is a generous arrangement, with enough on the plate to encourage passing bites around the table or carrying a little home afterward.
Ribs, pulled pork and brisket are the meats that tend to get the most attention. The barbecue has a pronounced smoky character, and the ribs and pork are known for their tender texture. Brisket comes in thick, well-seasoned slices on the platter, a more substantial presentation than a few thin shavings tucked beside the sides.
Burnt ends, wings and a sandwich built for appetite
Burnt ends provide a good detour from the usual barbecue order. They can stand on their own, and they also appear in a combination with baby back ribs for diners who want both the sticky, richly smoked edge pieces and a proper rack-style rib experience.
Smokehouse wings have their own following and make a strong addition when the table is ordering in a shareable mood. They are an easy item to add beside a platter, especially when some diners want to sample more than one smoked specialty.
For a handheld lunch, the Pig Out sandwich goes all in: pulled pork, bacon and cheese in one sandwich. It is not a restrained choice, nor is it trying to be. Pair it with fries or beans and it can easily carry someone through the next stretch of a mountain-bound drive.
Sides that do more than fill the plate
A barbecue restaurant can make a good impression with meat alone, but the sides here deserve some attention. The baked beans include noticeable chunks of pork, bringing a little more smokehouse heft to a dish that is sometimes treated as an afterthought.
Creamy macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, corn on the cob, fries and garlic toast provide the rest of the familiar lineup. Corn chowder is another option for a cooler-day meal, particularly appealing when a full sampler sounds like more food than the moment requires.
The barbecue sauce is vinegar-based and tangy, giving diners a sharper counterpoint to the richer meats. It works especially well with pulled pork, though there is enough flavor in the smoked meats to make sauce a choice rather than a necessity.
Not every order has to be barbecue
The smokehouse identity is clear, but the menu leaves room for mixed groups. Haddock, chicken salad sandwiches and grilled chicken sandwiches give non-barbecue diners a few straightforward alternatives, useful when a family table includes both devoted rib people and someone craving a lighter sandwich.
That variety also helps make Yankee Smokehouse a practical stop rather than a narrowly specialized one. One person can build a meal around burnt ends and beans while another chooses a grilled chicken sandwich, and nobody has to negotiate the whole outing around a single plate.
An easy place to bring the whole crew
The atmosphere is relaxed, clean and down to earth, with friendly service that fits the casual format. It handles family meals comfortably and has also accommodated larger parties, including groups of eight to ten diners.
Indoor dining is joined by a bar area and outdoor seating on a deck or patio. The outdoor option is a pleasant alternative when the weather cooperates, while the interior keeps the stop convenient on a travel day when everyone simply wants to sit down and eat.
Noise levels can range from quiet to moderately lively, depending on the crowd. That makes the restaurant workable for a simple conversation as well as the cheerful disorder of a multi-generation family meal.
Useful on a travel day
For travelers heading toward North Conway, Yankee Smokehouse offers a full meal without requiring a fussy plan. There is a free parking lot with plenty of spaces, and the restaurant offers both dine-in and takeout service.
Reservations are not generally required, though a larger party may have a short wait while tables are prepared. Once the food arrives, the sizable portions can turn into tomorrow's lunch, which is not a bad bonus when the order includes a sampler platter, a side of beans and that extra piece of cornbread.