The Smoking Mule Brings Barbecue and River Views to Chamberlain

Boats and marina activity give The Smoking Mule a setting that is a little more interesting than the usual road-trip meal stop. Near the Missouri River in Chamberlain, the restaurant looks out toward the water, offering a place to settle in over barbecue, a seafood sandwich or a cold drink before getting back on the highway.

The food has a happily broad range for a casual riverfront restaurant. One table can go all in on brisket and ribs while another orders a lobster-and-shrimp po’boy, a lobster roll or shrimp po’boy. That split personality works well for mixed groups, especially when nobody wants to negotiate a single cuisine.

There are distinct restaurant and bar areas, along with patio seating for taking in the river setting outdoors. A booth, a barstool and a patio table offer different versions of the same stop: relaxed, unfussy and built around a meal worth lingering over.

Smoked meat is a major reason to come hungry. Brisket, ribs, pulled pork, wings and smoked half chicken all appear among the barbecue choices, and the brisket, ribs and chicken have drawn particular attention for their flavor and careful preparation.

The smoked half chicken is a satisfying order for someone who wants the straightforward pleasure of well-cooked barbecue rather than a giant sandwich. It has been served tender and moist with potato salad that includes dill and celery, a small detail that gives the familiar side dish a little more personality.

Bourbon Ribs provide another route through the smoked-meat side of the menu. They have been noted for being flavorful and well cooked, the sort of plate that makes a person slow down for a few extra bites rather than rush through lunch.

The brisket does not stay confined to a platter. Brisket sandwiches are a recurring choice, while the brisket burger is a notably substantial menu item for anyone who prefers beef in burger form.

There are also more playful combinations, including brisket with Gouda and a grilled-cheese pulled-pork sandwich. Those choices take the smokehouse basics in a richer, messier direction, and that is very much the point.

Hot Nashville chicken broadens the sandwich list still further. It is useful insurance for the person at the table who is in no mood for ribs but still wants something with a little kick.

Kick Ass Loaded Beans are not a side dish that quietly occupies a corner of the plate. Also described as smoked baked beans, they carry a pronounced barbecue character and have become a repeat favorite.

The rest of the side menu invites a bit of grazing. Onion rings, sweet-potato fries, sweet-potato tots and pickle fries make it easy to build a table around shared extras, particularly if the main orders are sandwiches.

For starters, the choices run from Bayou shrimp and seasoned shrimp to Gouda bites, garlic cheese curds, and pork or cowboy nachos. Bayou shrimp has been described as flavorful, with seasoning that can land anywhere from mild to gently spicy.

The lobster-and-shrimp po’boy is one of the menu’s best-known surprises. It arrives as a generous sandwich and has earned a reputation as a standout order, an appealing change of pace when barbecue is not what you want with your river view.

A lobster roll and a shrimp po’boy give the seafood side of the menu its own depth. The result is not a token fish option added for variety; seafood is a genuine lane here.

The fish sandwich has also left a strong impression on diners. It is the sort of humble menu choice that can end up getting more conversation than the expected headliners.

The bar offers local beer, including selections from Palace City Brewing, plus the Smoking Mule exclusive Braying Brown Brew. It is a natural spot to take a break from the road, listen to music and let the meal unfold at a less hurried pace.

Choosing a drink need not be a blind pick. Beer samples have been offered to help match a drink with food, and a pineapple seltzer has made a bright companion to a lobster roll.

The bar area also has a prominent video display, but it is not all screens and noise. The general mood remains friendly and conversational, with the restaurant side available when the group wants a more conventional dinner table.

Dogs are welcomed here with fresh water, which is a fine little kindness after time in the car. Visiting pups have also been photographed for a wall display, an informal touch that fits the restaurant’s easygoing personality.

Pet-owning travelers have had options that included outdoor seating and, on some visits, a back room indoors. Arrangements can vary, but the restaurant has made room for dogs rather than treating them as an inconvenience.

The Smoking Mule sits near the river and marina, about a seven-minute drive off Interstate 90 by one account. That makes it an easy detour for travelers moving through Chamberlain and the surrounding area without turning lunch or dinner into a major expedition.

A free private parking lot is available and has been described as gravel. Seating includes the dining room, bar, booths and patio, though the available information does not establish patio operation through every season.

Reservations have not been required in at least some visits. Kitchen and dining service may close relatively early on certain days, however, so current hours are worth checking when a late arrival is part of the plan.

Before leaving, take a look through the small gift shop. It is an agreeable final browse after brisket, beans and a view of the Missouri River.