2 Smoking Barrels

Tucked in a light industrial strip of car yards, smash repairs and auto electricians, 2 Smoking Barrels is Wollongong’s go-to American barbecue. The outlay on a BBQ platter for two ($78) seems hefty but when you get stuck into three meats, three sides, two soft rolls and some pickles you’ll quickly realise it delivers more than you both require. We ended up taking two slices of stretchy pit-smoked brisket, a mound of pulled pork (that avoided the usual too-sweet trap) and some hot links (house-made sausages) home with us for a killer rustic spaghetti sauce dinner. Make sure one of your chosen sides is their burnt end beans. This blend of beans and burnt beef brisket ends is delicious (you need potato gems for dipping) and very hearty. The ‘slaw makes a good counterpoint, as it is very lightly dressed. In terms of the craft brews, the local guy (brewed in Austinmer) Coal Coast Brew ($7.50) easy to like. The interstate entry, Rover ($7.50), is hoppier with slightly more bitterness if that floats your boat. They’re apparently not supposed to be consumed on the outdoor tables, but these tough pandemic times call for greater flexibility from us all…

The Gong's first legit American BBQ. We got the platter for 2 and the Bubba Gump Po boy. We opted for the brisket, pulled pork, corn bread, vinegar slaw and fries. Serving was quite generous and this could feed 3 people. The brisket and pulled pork were tendered and moist. I liked that the vinegar side wasn't creamy, it helped compliment the smoked meats. The po boy was also good, the special sauce had dill in it which made it taste a bit like a prawn big mac 😅. Overall it was a tasty lunch. Definitely hit them up if you're craving smoked meats

Slow and Low is the motto and the method of 2 Smoking Barrels. A barbecue join that sits tucked away between car yards on Flinders Street in Wollongong. The location is a little out of the way and set apart from the ever evolving Keira Street “foodie mile” but not so far that you would overlook a night of carnivorous decadence. The venue is attempting to emulate the traditional American barbecue and when it comes to the meat they are delivering. All the meats on offer are cooked with texture and flavour refined to an optimum level. The brisket is the stand out being tender and juicy with a beautifully seasoned crisp skin. With a couple of mates we ordered some burgers and the plate for one. The burgers were packed with meat served between soft milk buns. They tasted great and serving sizes generous. The one criticism is where a lot of Aussie burger joints fall short of their U.S counterparts; for your 18 to 20 something bucks you just get a burger, no sides, no garnish. For this price how hard would it be to include a small side of fries and maybe a pickle or other quirky garnish to really make the experience memorable. I had the plate for one and it was, well, it was ok. Again, the meat was amazing, but it was the accompaniments that were in parts lacklustre. The good… the burnt end beans were great! A mixture of brisket ends and beans in a hot tomato based sauce was tasty and packed a nice hot flavour punch. The pickles were really nice but maybe just lacking in quantity. The disappointment however was the Mac and cheese. I LOVE Mac and cheese and it should be creamy, sticky and full of gooey cheesy goodness. This Mac was dry, bland and not at all memorable. We washed our meals down with some beers and a cider which were great. The web site doesn’t mention the venue is Licenced so if you were worried you wouldn’t be able to grab a cold one with your BBQ then fear not. There is a pretty good selection of drinks to choose from, both alcoholic and non alcoholic. In summary 2 Smoking Barrels is worth checking out if you love slow and low cooked meat but there is room to make this joint even better with some small improvements. Oh, and the staff were really really lovely. Friendly and attentive and happy to have a chat and a joke with customers. I can’t remember her name but she had a new tattoo of a bee on a gum leaf and she was really lovely. Thanks for a great night! 😀

I might be bias because this is my favorite type of food but man oh man do they do it well. Extremely tasty meat, the soft shell crab burger was an experience as well. Not a huge fan of franks hot sauce but didn't mind it in this. Bit pricey but far worth it. Very quick for food to come out as well. Can't wait to go again.

MEAT! Staff were terrific and able to suggest some great ideas from their menu. Some dishes, especially brisket & rib cuts are limited to 'First Served' after opening for the day with latecomers missing out on some of the smoked meats if they get in late... but there's always plenty on the menu to choose from. The food tastes as good as it smells.... absolutely delicious! And by-gosh they've really mastered American Style BBQ grilling and meat smoking. It's a small site so indoor seating is limited to just a few tables. You can spend a bit of money on a large cut of meat or you can literally gorge yourself on less 'exotic' dishes that are equally satisfying. So many delicious options. Great to see they're back open now after the Australian Covid Shutdown. We'll drive all the way from Sydney the Woolongong to sample their menu. Vegans beware!

Amazing burger - juicy patty and soft fluffy bun. We went on a Sunday and the smell of this place was great. Has a really nice vibe and the staff were super friendly. The only thing I would say could be improved was that we paid $10 for a small piece of brisket. Would have preferred if the serve was larger. Also I’m not a fan of gourmet burger places charging extra for chips but the good thing is this place will at least give you a good sized serve. If you’re in the gong and love a good burger def check this place out.