Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse (3 Plates)

Outside Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse

Bootlegging is illegal but there should be an exception for bootlegging good food. Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse in Phoenix, AZ is taking food to illegally good levels. Who doesn't want good food?

Seating inside the restaurant

I got to try their food for lunch on a rainy Sunday. I was immediately greeted by the scent of barbeque as soon as I got out of the car. The aroma of burnt wood and meat started to excite my taste buds. It was truly a modern day smokehouse feel when I walked in to the restaurant. Nice tables with orange chairs (GO SUNS!) to my left, a bar and long tables to my right, big booths for large groups in front of me and flat screens TVs all the way at the back. Everything felt very modern but still felt every bit a smokehouse.

The Bar 

TV at the back

Service was nice. We were greeted at the door with a smile and offered drinks a soon as we got to our table. I asked the bartender (which was our server on that day) to switch the TV to a different game and she was kind enough to advice me that she will have the channel changed soon as she finishes the drinks that she was preparing for everyone at the bar. It took a while and another similar request from another table but we finally got our channel changed. During our meal, our server constantly checked on us to make sure we had everything we needed. Again, the service was just nice.

The Lunch Menu

The food was a little above average. I see the reason why they were given awards for Best Sandwich (Phoenix New Times), People's Choice for Tacos and Best Craft Cocktail (Arizona Taco Festival) in 2013. I ordered their Apple Brandy Shandy ($9), Cottage Fries ($5), Mac & Cheese ($9) and the BBQ Express Lunch ($15). All of them satisfied my taste buds. Everything was tasty and balanced. The only down side, the food is pricey and the serving size was too small. For a barbeque joint, you would expect a hearty meal that would satisfy your cowboy gut. I was informed that they heav a different menu for dinner. Since I was there for lunch, their menu did not shout out bbq except for their BBQ Express Lunch.

Apple Brandy Shandy

The Apple Brandy Shandy Moonshine Cocktail was very refreshing. The tangy apple flavor cuts through the strong moonshine bitterness. Since it was served on a mason jar, it was able to keep the moonshine character while still staying true to the modern theme. It was a great starter for a good meal.

Cottage Fries

The Cottage Fries was a delight. Maybe the best of what I ordered during my visit. The thinly sliced potato were fried to crispy perfection. The cajun flavors complimented the crispy potato fries. It felt like eating potato chips. It had a good spicy kick on each bite. It wasn't overly seasoned. In fact, the seasoning was right on.

Mac & Cheese

I love their Mac & Cheese! The flavor wasn't flat. You get a little bit of saltyness and lots of the creaminess which I always love from a mac and cheese. They combine four types of cheese which complimented each other. Served on a skillet, the mac and cheese is kept warm to a perfect cheesy bite. Love it but the serving is a little too small for $9.

The BBQ express lunch I had was composed of 2 slices of beef brisket, 1/2 cup of pulled pork, cole slaw and tortillas. Very good smoky flavor on the brisket. I love the burned parts that added character and flavor to the meat. The pulled pork had a sweet and tangy finish. Both brisket and pulled pork were tender and very easy to chew. The coleslaw was a little flat. I would have wanted a little bit of seasoning. Maybe a little more salt. The tortilla, hmmm... it tasted like a tortilla. The star of the plate were the brisket and pulled pork which was served on a small skillet. Again, it is really good but I think its way too pricey. For $15, I would have wanted 2 more slices of the brisket and maybe another spoon of the pulled pork.

BBQ Express Lunch

I would come back for the food. But maybe next time I'll try the dinner menu. Maybe i'll leave my cowboy appetite at home on my next visit. I am always willing to pay well for good food. As long as the serving size is comparable to the price. At this point, Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse is only a serving size (and maybe a few more BBQ menu options) away to becoming the next best BBQ joint in town.