Southfield, MI — I’ve returned from a brief break to share some big life updates and a new barbecue adventure! I took the last couple of weeks off from blogging (but never foodie adventuring) due to a major career change and moved to a new city.
After 14 years, I closed the door to my career as a journalist. I decided to leave the news industry to join the other side of the communications coin: public relations! And while I’m enjoying my first week adjusting to a new career and workflow, I had to carve out some time to share my last foodie adventure as a journalist. A week ago, during my last week, I noticed a storefront I hadn’t recognized before that, unbeknownst to me, opened next door to my favorite Chinese takeout spot (Hunan Town) in Southfield. Since it had been some time since I had enjoyed barbecue, I figured now was as good a time as any to check out Midtown Smokehouse!
FULL SECTION: MI Foodie Adventures Barbecue Series
The barbecue joint is located along 12 Mile Road, just east of Northwestern Highway and Franklin Road in Southfield. Midtown Smokehouse has some seriously stellar reviews on Google on Yelp, with an average 4.8 stars out of 5 on Google, and that’s with 300 reviews on the dot as of this recap. I saw many smoked meat and sides enthusiasts raving about the brisket and ribs, as well as the Mac & cheese and baked beans. Personally, whenever I check out a new barbecue spot for the first time, one of the items I always order is the cornbread. To me, and from many BBQ followers and pitmasters I’ve met/interviewed in my travels, many will tell you that whether a place can produce a solid cornbread can really determine if the rest of the menu will be good or not. And while some may enjoy their cornbread in different shape, sizes, or flakiness, it is a beloved side you should typically find at any barbecue joint around the country.
On Thursday, I pulled up during my lunch break to pick up a takeout order for myself, my former manager, and one of my friends at my former station. I didn’t really have much to eat all day, so I decided to order a combo that came with two meats and two sides. So, naturally, I had to go with the beef brisket, St. Louis ribs, Mac & cheese, and cornbread!
I walked inside and navigated my way up to the counter. There were already a few other patrons waiting inside for their orders, so I approached the counter and spoke with the co-owner to place my group order. It turns out, Midtown Smokehouse is owned by a very lovely family! The husband was in the kitchen off to the side handling the grill and filling orders while his wife handled the register and facilitated the pick-ups. They were very friendly and welcoming!
While I waited for my order, I chatted with some of the other folks waiting in the lobby. One of my favorite aspects to the barbecue community is always how friendly and unified everyone is in their enjoyment of the food. I struck up conversation with two older gentlemen and discussed several other local BBQ establishments that we all enjoyed. Before one left, he also made the pro tip suggestion to try the Midtown Meat Sampler next time, which includes half pounds of brisket, pulled pork, rib tips, ribs, mixed sausage, and three smoked wings. After the ensuing meal, and as you’ll see/read below, I’ll be returning to Midtown Smokehouse as soon as possible to try more of their menu!
The Food
After receiving my order, I bid farewell to the kind owners and rushed back to my station to disperse the other takeout containers to my (now former) colleagues. I rushed to the break room and propped open the hefty container to reveal a gorgeous site of a mountain of smoked, saucy ribs atop a heap of thick cuts of brisket. The back corners contained the heavenly golden Mac & cheese and cornbread.
The first thing I snatched up was one of the ribs, which were finished on the grill to perfection. The meat was so darn succulent, smokey, and seasoned very well from end to end. The sauce was rather savory with a hint of vinegar to add some twang to it. I chomped through all four ribs in no time, enjoying the sticky sauce and was very pleased with how much meat ended up being on each rib — they got some fantastic ribs at Midtown Smokehouse!
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I moved up to try some of the Mac & cheese before moving onto the tantalizing brisket. I was pleasantly surprised to note that the consistency of this M&C reminded me exactly of cheesy potatoes during holiday family gatherings. So, obviously, I was a fan! There were a few layers of cheese going on in this mix, and I loved that the blend was heavier on the cheese and lighter on the sauce. Mac & cheese (IMO) should be all about the cheese drowning some well-cooked noodles, which Midtown Smokehouse’s rendition knocked out of the park. My colleague Stefan (from the Whiskeys on the Water Downriver adventure) agreed, and I can see why this menu item is so popular among orders. This is a must-try side! A personal recommendation, throw some barbecue sauce onto the Mac & cheese and stir it up for another layer of flavor to the profile.
I forked up a slice of the brisket and was blown away by how thick the slice itself was! I was already overjoyed to see four lengthy pieces remaining beneath the previously devoured ribs, and to see such considerable portion sizes was the cherry on top. I absolutely loved the bark; it was heavily seasoned and coated very nicely with a slightly sweet and sticky marinade.
The beef itself was tender and cooked a good medium throughout, which I personally prefer when it comes to brisket. There are many different approaches to smoking meat, and sometimes brisket can come out slightly more on the rare/tender side if it gets pulled too early. The fine family running Midtown Smokehouse has got a phenomenal brisket for its bark, seasoning, booming flavor, and solid final product. If you’re craving brisket or need a new place to add to your rotation for it, this barbecue establishment deserves a visit and spot on your list!
The cornbread was pretty good and met all my standards for proper cornbread. It was a larger serving and came in the form of a muffin. This made me particularly happy since it’s a bigger portion than some places that serve cornbread as three to four bite rectangles, typically about an inch thick and two to three inches long. Cornbread is certainly more enjoyed when it’s something you can let loose the jaw and go for a bigger, more full bite without making it disappear in two bites!
The cornbread had the perfect flaky/crumble balance. There were some light flake and crumbling action (as seen in the photo above), but the overall integrity of the cornbread itself remained pretty solid for the most part. To me, there’s nothing more annoying than a cornbread that crumbles to a million pieces at the sheer touch, rendering it nearly inedible. So, I was grateful for Midtown Smokehouse’s rendition, although the only thing I’d add or wish for was a bit more butter put into the mixture. A bit more sweetness would have really elevated this to a near 10 out of 10 situation, but it was still very much enjoyed nonetheless!
Overall, I was a huge fan of Midtown Smokehouse in Southfield. The quality and portion sizes of the food was top tier, and the service and hospitality from the family that runs the joint was also exceptional. The next time you find yourself in Southfield or craving barbecue, I highly recommend checking out Midtown Smokehouse!
For more information about Midtown Smokehouse, click here.
MI Foodie Adventures 