Three brothers in Bergen County are cooking up authentic barbecue out of their new restaurant in Ramsey. In fact, the new spot — Brothers Smokehouse — has two industrial smokers running 24/7 to match their motto, Smoken All Day; which means there’s never any shortage of Southern-style food and slow-cooked smoked barbecue.
The full-service restaurant and bar replaces Macaroni Grill, and can seat about 70 people indoors. In terms of interior design, you’ll find pig wallpaper, an open kitchen, and a stage for bands. Meanwhile, their side patio offers outdoor dining for up to 16.
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Brothers Smokehouse: A Family Affair
The story behind Brothers Smokehouse begins with brothers Gavin, Jamie, and Chris Farella. They fell in love with barbecue after vacationing in the Outer Banks as kids. But they found a disappointing lack of good barbecue upon coming home. In 2008, the brothers brought their love of the south to New York by opening a small BBQ shack in New Windsor. However, in August 2010 the place caught fire and burned down.
Then in 2012 they tried again, this time opening a full-service, 100-seat restaurant in New Windsor. “The plan was always to expand,” the brothers explain. “We’ve always wanted to come to New Jersey.”
As far as why Brothers Smokehouse calls Ramsey home, they say “We think we’ve found a second home in Ramsey. The town is great and we’re lucky to be here.”
Mouth-Watering Meats & More
So what’s on the menu at Brothers Smokehouse? “It starts and ends with our smoked meats,” the brothers say. “Our pork is inspired by North Carolina, while our brisket and sausage are Texas inspired.” They also serve shrimp and grits, featuring Gulf shrimp sautéed with bacon, peppers, and onions, served over cheesy grits. Their homemade BBQ sauce, in addition to all smoked meats (besides the sausage), is gluten-free.
The straight-from-Texas beef sausage is a favorite so far, and pairs well with their jalapeno cheddar sausage. The Brothers Smoked Brisket is also a hit. This pepper-crusted meat is sliced to order, smoked low and slow for over 15 hours until perfectly tender. For families, they have two options: “Eat Like a King” serves two to four, while “Eat Like the Brothers” serves four to six; both options feature ribs, chicken, brisket, and pulled pork, as well as large sides.
Of course, you need to wash all that BBQ down with something. “Our signature cocktails are literally flying off our bar,” says General Manager Russell Zimmerman. He says the two most popular ones are the New Fashioned and the Brothers Paw.
You’ll find Brothers Smokehouse at 900 Route 17 North in Ramsey. Look for them online to learn more.
Brothers Smokehouse FAQs
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All Photos: © Brothers Smokehouse