On February 11th, FS Food Group’s Frank Scibelli and Pitmaster Matthew Barry – NCRLA’s “Employee of the Year” — will open Midwood Smokehouse in downtown Raleigh’s new mixed-used development Smoky Hollow, located at 409 West Johnson Street. This marks the first Midwood Smokehouse to open in the State’s Capitol and the sixth location for this award-winning, North Carolina-based, all-wood barbecue restaurant – and long-time favorite of celebrities and political candidates alike.
“We’re known for our hickory wood-smoked barbecue, influenced by cooking styles from all the major barbecue capitals,” says Matthew Barry, an NC State alum. The menu, which emphasizes Texas-style barbecue, offers everything from Prime Beef Brisket to Eastern North Carolina Barbecue and Tex-Mex Barbecue Tacos. And the Raleigh location will deliver the most Tex-Mex flavors yet, complete with a fresh tortilla-maker in full view.
Midwood Smokehouse will be open daily for lunch and dinner, from 11am to 9pm and 10pm (Fridays & Saturdays), and for take-out and catering alongside signature Midwood Smokehouse Sauces and Spice Rubs. Reserve at Resy and follow @MidwoodRaleigh for updates on this location. (Opening weekend will offer limited seating and no to-go orders.)
“We’ve had our sights on Raleigh for a few years, and are thrilled to be part of the city’s newest downtown neighborhood,” says Scibelli, whose restaurant group is respected for its “employee-owned” approach. “Our pitmasters and crew look forward to serving some of the best barbecue in the Capital City.”
Midwood Smokehouse’s Oyler Smoker was installed to smoke one thousand pounds of meat at once. “We smoke twenty-four hours a day to maintain our quality standards – and do our best to never run out.” In fact, Midwood even smokes brisket specifically for the purpose of offering Kansas City style “Burnt Ends” with Cola Barbecue Sauce on its menu at all times – a fan favorite often referred to as “meat candy.”
Thanks to a longtime collaborative relationship with famed Austin, Texas pitmaster Miguel Vidal of Valentina’s – a Texas Monthly “Top 50 Best BBQ Joint” – Midwood features a Tex-Mex section, with “Miguel’s Queso” and “Tex-Mex Tacos,” like the “Queso Birriabecue” – Midwood’s take on the popular “quesabirria tacos.”
The Raleigh location will take the Tex-Mex menu even further. For starters, it’s the only location to feature a tortilla machine in the center of restaurant, giving diners a window into the fresh flour tortillas made for barbecue tacos. Raleigh’s Midwood will also be the only location offering tableside “Unholy Guacamole” and the “Gordito’s Special” – a combo of four smoked meats served with the fresh made tortillas, pico de gallo, beans, and pickled jalapeños. In the coming months, look for an even larger Tex-Mex menu – influenced by Vidal – to be introduced in Raleigh!
Other craveable menu items include St. Louis Pork Ribs, Barbecue Plates, Sandwiches, Salads and small plates such as Skillet Cornbread and Nachos Libre, alongside scratch sides like Collard Greens, Barbecue Baked Beans, Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeños, Mac and Cheese – named “Best in the South” by Southern Living, and house made Banana Pudding and Pecan Cobbler. Their bar program boasts a bourbon-focused bar and craft cocktails, as well as wine and a local draft beer program and specialty beers, including the Texas-brewed Shiner Bock.
Watch for the Sunday Brunch menu coming soon, with dishes like Red Eye Burnt Ends & Grits with cold brew barbecue brisket and fresh cream grits with fried eggs, plus $5 Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas.
Sports fans will appreciate the To-Go menu of Party Packs & Sliders (which require 24 hours advance notice) and Midwood’s conveniently located to-go window: Midwood Group Menu Jan 2023 (midwoodsmokehouse.com)
The 4,125 square foot restaurant reflects the brand’s nostalgic barbecue aesthetic, but the architectural detail of Raleigh location boasts a new, modern look and feel thanks to a two-sided wall of windows. With 125 seats indoors, 40 outdoors, accordion windows opening the bar to the patio and Smoky Hollow’s pedestrian courtyard, and the first to-go window, Midwood Smokehouse is primed to have a presence in the State’s Capitol.
