Smokeworks Ltd in Cambridge

I have a specific complaint about the toilets which ruined my whole experience. When entering the toilets, the gender distinguished entrances were not made obvious. When going in to the women’s, I opened the already open door, and found a man going for a wee with his pants pulled down. Without stating the obvious, I think it’s pretty appalling that women cannot have a safe space separate from drunken men to go to the loo in peace. I also felt incredibly uncomfortable and awkward after this and it ruined the rest of ,y dining experience. I cannot say I would recommend this place to families, as allowing your children to go to the toilet alone would be an unsafe option. I still feel uncomfortable.

Good food and atmosphere. Beers could easily be better

Amazing local small business that deserves your time to visit, great staff amazing food and some locally brewed beers

Went out for lunch, the nice girl working at the bar, let us taste the beer and was very kind overall. I had the chicken burger, which was amazing, and the mac and cheese on the side, I would recommend this place

I had a great experience on my first visit to Cambridge. Smokeworks on Free school lane was definitely a highlight and I really really enjoyed my St Louis belly rib. Lots of intense flavours, soft tender meat and the slaw was the perfect accompaniment due to its crunch and freshness. Our sides were the Mac ‘n cheese and the Cajun spiced onion rings, both were probably the best I’ve ever had. My partner ordered the baby back ribs but this was the only item which unfortunately wasn’t on par with everything else. The ribs were tender but didn’t have much flavour. I also got the apple crumble handshake which was so good I had to grab one to go. You’re missing a trick by not offering a strawberry cheesecake version! Staff were brilliant from start to finish and if you’re reading this then know that I appreciate you.

I had a great experience on my first visit to Cambridge. Smokeworks on Free school lane was definitely a highlight and I really really enjoyed my St Louis belly rib. Lots of intense flavours, soft tender meat and the slaw was the perfect accompaniment due to its crunch and freshness. Our sides were the Mac ‘n cheese and the Cajun spiced onion rings, both were probably the best I’ve ever had. My partner ordered the baby back ribs but this was the only item which unfortunately wasn’t on par with everything else. The ribs were tender but didn’t have much flavour. I also got the apple crumble handshake which was so good I had to grab one to go. You’re missing a trick by not offering a strawberry cheesecake version! Staff were brilliant from start to finish and if you’re reading this then know that I appreciate you.

Really nice and cozy place! The food was tasty and the service very friendly and fast!

Nice little BBQ restaurant with great food. Service and ambience are good.

Amazing food, tasty ribs very well cooked Friendly and helpful staff. Highly recommended

Want chicken and ribs, soft and fall off the bone, plus then a button for service them this is the place. Great staff and lovely food. Snug but comfortable we had a platter which is good for the money, the mac and cheese is a must add on too. Lovely food not a big vill. Recommended.

The food was rather good, unfortunately the music was so loud we could barely hear each other, despite asking for the music to be turned down, they seemed more interested in ignoring my request, really disappointed and spoilt a lovely day with our son.

Got a table with no reservation on a Saturday which was nice. Drinks and food arrived fast and I like the switch on the wall if you want service. Now the food, I ordered the ribs and rings combo and it was a bit of a let down tbh. The ribs were not tender and was very tough chewy. I questioned this and was told that’s how they are meant to be, with a bite I believe he said. I have not had ribs like this before, the bbq sauce just tasted a bit generic nothing special. The wings were pretty good best part of the meal but I came for the ribs glad I didn’t order a full rack. My friend got the special pork and Mac burger. This again was a let down. Two small bits of pork was not enough for the big bun it was served in. The loaded fries were not good. Hardly any meat and came with chillis even thou we asked for no chillis

Our 3rd time here and never disappoints

Had a sharing platter for 2 with the short ribs. The beef rib was really soft. I’d give it a 10/10. Customer Service was really good 😊

Fantastic buffalo wings. Amazing service. I came here the second day in line!

Delicious food. Definitely recommended when it comes to BBQ and meat dishes. The interior is small and cozy.

Great little place, atmosphere was lovely, the food very tasty and the cocktails amazing! The basil mescalita was so good! Service was also excellent! Thank you!

Food not nice, service wasn’t nice, loud music

This place is awesome! The food was absolutely outstanding! And we was served by an awesome waitress! Attentive and with great hunour. The whole experience was great. The portion sizes was huge! Definitely a challenge for any food lover!

Amazing food, brilliant service! Will definitely come again!

Beef ribs are fabulous! The great way of asking for service is innovative.

We had our table cancelled on us elsewhere (who does that in 2024?!), so decided to look nearby, and chanced upon this place. We both enjoyed it massively. Our combo meals were both delicious, we couldn’t fault it, it’s quirky, stylish and just good southern style hospitality in Cambridge. I’ve eaten at many places like this, and it really made me smile, as good food should. Just good ole fashioned eats. Killer soundtrack on the playlist too, although the warbling lady next to us was off key singing bless her.

Fantastic service, excellent food and a whole separate menu for my gluten-free friend, which was brilliant. Definitely recommend

I’d probably give this place a miss - there are too many other options worth a shot. We came here as a couple for dinner before some comedy at the corn exchange. Seated quickly - quite liked the switch on the wall to request service - thought the serving untensils storage on the wall was very smart. Menu looked tasty if a little more expensive than we’d expected but still worth seeing how it comes. Server was attentive and adjusted our order so we could eat something sooner than the time it would take for our main order to arrive. Main food arrived promptly - probably faster than we’d have expected but certainly no complaints! St Louis pork belly was lovely - coleslaw a definite hit - fries serving too small mind. The issue came with the ‘half smoked chicken’ on the ‘double clucker’ platter. Everything else fine but this chicken was drier than the bloody desert. I’m really not fussy when it comes to chicken but I had to spit it out before it ended me via dehydration. Seriously I get that the USP is bbq food and perhaps we didn’t appreciate that the atmosphere is certainly not date night nor particularly comfortable - hey that’s on us for making the choice. Can’t say they mislead you there. But good lord - what did that poor chicken do to deserve that! That CANNOT be what you generally or aim to serve! We did tell the lovely server at the end how bad it was and she walked off shouting somebody’s name as if there was a protocol for this (or perhaps we’re not the first … I doubt very much that we are!) - but she did not return. Instead we requested the bill - paid and left. We couldn’t be bothered to kick up a fuss at having paid £24 for a twice murdered chicken - but we can safely say we did tell them - once was just fine! Let’s hope they forgot about it in the oven and it was a one off dud - otherwise the area surrounding it is going to be filled with people clawing for fluids all around the streets of Cambridge and perhaps vengeance for the injustice of their poultry friends masssacre.

At Smokeworks in Cambridge, I indulged in their "Big Meat Up" platter for 2, featuring Cumberland sausage, smoked Austrian sausage, BBQ chicken wings, fried chicken wings, BBQ pulled pork, crispy pork belly, corn, vegetables, slaw, fries, dip, and an additional choice of meat (we opted for a full rack of ribs). Right off the bat, I can tell you that this meal was exceptional. The Cumberland sausage and fried chicken wings were decent, but not outstanding, and the pulled pork fell short of my usual expectations (as a pork lover), but the rest of the items were positively impeccable. The ribs were perfectly cooked, falling right off the bone. The fries were crispy and flavourful, and the BBQ chicken wings stood out, particularly owing to the sauce they were coated in. The Austrian sausage was also impressive, though I wish there had been more of it instead of the Cumberland. The pickled vegetables, slaw, and corn all enhanced the meal, though I didn't partake in the pickles as I'm not a fan in general. The pork belly was a standout and definitely the highlight of the platter. Despite some minor disappointments, the overall quality of the meal definitely justified the £52 price tag. I highly recommend this platter to any meat lover. I also must mention their "baconnaise" (mayo & bacon) dip, which was a delightful addition to the table.

Came to Cambridge for our anniversary and had to try this place. By far, the best BBQ food we've had in the UK! Staff were incredible and there was an endless drink menu to choose from. We'll definitely be coming back to Cambridge just to have another go at this place! Only advice would be, book a table! Enjoy!

Lots of good things about this restaurant: great beer list, good staff, lots of good food. The problem is the main event: the smoked meat. The beef rib was incredibly dry, more like overcooked roast beef. And the pork rib is really poor: unrendered pork fat, rubbery skin neither classic st Louis ribs nor roast pork. It's the third time I've been and it's been the same each time so there's clearly an issue. Could be a great restaurant.

The food is consistently great so great chefs, and the people are all very good and vibey. The Assistant Manager there Mario is such a great guy and he helped out out instantly with such a smile, all of us were so happy with the service, which was also mirrored by the waiters and waitress's Nick also a great guy super fun and always on it. My Family and Friends also agree so it wasn't just me

A great little place. Friendly staff and easy ordering system. Only complaint they forgot my chips, but when I queried this they soon corrected this.

Lovely 🥰 pub Nice and cozy Place for spending time

Amazing dinner!! Me and my kids loved it

In my opinion: Food was lacking flavor Small in portio size Uncomfortable sitting The staff were really ok Wouldn't recommend Sorry

Deliciosa comida, Buen ambiente, buen servicio.

This place is outstanding. The food was delicious, even the vegan option. Portion sizes were perfect. The variety of meats and sides were ideal. The service is second to none, with a really handy and easy way to get staff attention, and the people there are super attentive and friendly. The bourbon is out of this world too. Fantastic selection!

I took a smoked half chicken with chips and rainbow slaw. Everything is extremely tasty, especially rainbow slaw (I took an extra potion). The stuff is very friendly, music is excellent. Highly recommend

We popped into smokeworks on a busy Saturday as a family of four. Straight up the service was fantastic - the team were warm and friendly and we were quickly seated and water brought to the table. Quick, efficient and friendly service throughout. The team really made us feel welcome and well looked after. The food was delicious. Excellent prices for the kids meals. So pleased we came here for lunch.

Loved it, staff very friendly, food served quickly and tasted great.

We are regulars here. Fantastic staff, friendly and always go the extra mile to make your visit special. You would struggle to find a more genuine and consistent level of service, food and care and attention. You are made to feel like friends here. Thanks so much, Jill & Phil

Went with a group of 9 of us and they were really accommodating. Venue has a nice ambience. Food came quickly but was amazing and very filling. Staff were happy and gave the group some good subjects of good foods. Only issue is no sweet menu for after your meal.

Saw this place online and decided to give it a try as we were spending the night in Cambridge. It's only a very small place, but we got a table as a walk in. The staff were brilliant, very friendly and efficient. Our drinks were out within minutes, and the food not too far behind. Staff checked up on us, and we ordered a few more drinks when they did. Somewhere I'd gladly go back to

The ambience, food and staff were great, but I can't say the same for the beers. I hope there will be better options for beers

We used to love this place under the old management including the menu Unfortunately when it changed hands so did the menu to which we tried once before and was disappointed. Today we thought we’d give it another go, unfortunately it’ll be our last We ordered some buns and some wings as they were free via the Embargo app. The buns were ok but the wings were horrible. Very cheap chicken with bones falling apart as you tried eating them. The Oreo milkshake is still one of the best in the city! The price of the food is rather high for what it is while also smaller than it used to be. The menu is two options, pay a high price for ribs or a high price for burgers The staff were great but unfortunately the food let’s it down

9/10- very good, large portion sizes, perfectly cooked tender meat, will be visiting again. Only complaint is that there was only craft larger, which I was not a fan of.

Barman was great ambassador for the bar / restaurant.

The best bbq meat place I have ever eaten at. The food was perfect. The beef short rib was incredibly tender and my favourite part of the entire platter. The platter itself was generous with an incredible variety of meats - each component tasting amazing. The No Collins drink was also lovely. The service was really good especially the way you signal to the staff that you're ready to order. It's a shame that these guys are only in Cambridge as I don't live in Cambridge.

Had a brilliant meal here, the staff were incredibly friendly and the food was great, absolutely recommend to everyone

Friendly staff, great food, quirky place. We all agreed (5 of us), that this was a great choice for our annual get together (we'd been to play shuffle board at The Tivoli for 2 hours before, so had worked up an appetite). The fact that they don't serve dessert is not an issue - we were FULL and happy.

Food was so tasty, service was super quick and friendly. Good selection of beers plus a decent choice of low alcohol beers. Glad I don’t live in Cambridge, I would eat here too often!

Amazing food + drinks, lovely staff, good vibes (shoutout to the music playlist) - will definetly come here again!!

Stopped in the Smoke works tap next door for a drink - amazing Christmas decorations and atmosphere and incredible service, would highly recommend!

The food was DELICIOUS and the service was great. Mario was super friendly and attentive. I will come back 100%.

Fantastic find! This wasn't our first visit but had been about 5 years since we've eaten here and it didn't dissapoint. We were met by a super friendly and chatty gentleman that got us seated. The menu had plenty of choice and they were more than happy to explain everything to us. We had a food allergy in our group and it wasn't a problem at all. They were happy to answer all the questions and were really knowledgeable about what is in the menu. Definitely recommend this place for all your bbq needs!

If a BBQ-style meal lures you this way, it’s an interesting - if basic - corner restaurant where a visitor is greeted by angsty alt rock (avril lavigne/ early foos/ linkin park/ blink 182 etc) on entrance. Fair enough. It was busy too. The staff were hugely enthusiastic and attentive: the food disappointing. I ordered the wings and sides. The sides were good - particularly the slaw - but the wings: holey moley. Anyone who has ever eaten BBQ/spicy wings in the US (or even in the old TGI Fridays) wouldn’t recognise these things. Microwaved, grey, rubbery whole wings with “drizzled” sauce where the latter couldn’t disguise the soggy tasteless meat beneath. 10 minutes to the table should have been a warning. It’s a stretch I know, but KFC wings are more authentic. So it’s a pity: good atmosphere and keen staff but be careful what you order. Maybe the burgers are better.

Food arrives before drinks Charged for large wine got small one Told I was late and they turned away a party of 36 because I reserved a table for 2 and got a table for 4 so not sure where 32 others would have sat House burger was awful not cooked sad chips from an oven bag and overlaps sauces to disguise the mess it was I didn’t and couldn’t eat it Put service charge on bill , but had to take that off we had 4 servers food arrives in 5 mins so we was there 30 mins spent £50 more than anyone stood around us was spending and was treated so rude for being 10 mins late due to traffic one server made a pint of say that’s why I was made to wait for my drink ! And why my food was not evens cooked it was flavourless and mushy and quite frankly the staff wouldn’t have eaten that burger like that so why make your paying customers ! Not s restaurant it’s a playground for snobs who are lobely abs superficial to throw a few darts about like they are clever - don’t go for a meal here ! Wasted my money my time and only one young lady was polite to me yeh man who took my order was rude and didn’t even get us another water and the last guy who seemed more mature didn’t ask how was our meal cau if he had dare too ask he would have heard he even was too embarrassed to ask taking away a whole plate of uneaten food and not asking if they had served me rank - jokes - surprised I Fitbit have food poisoning the burger was red slush ! Good luck entering this theme park Order a chocolate dream take them 45 mins to make it 😂😂😂😂

Great food, brilliant craft beer, and very friendly staff. Can't fault it. So good we went twice in a weekend.

Bit small inside but 10 out of 10 on food sometimes it’s a little bit messy with your fingers but I suppose that’s the way smoke work works Nice friendly atmosphere staff are nice clean and tidy and always in uniform. Nice to people watch as there’s so much going on outside lovely church opposite and the Eagle pub across the road. I would definitely go back

Had the beet smokehouse food I’ve taste here. I went for the half chicken and the husband had the pork burger, we shared some wings. Good selections of beers & drinks. Fantastic staff, the waitress was friendly, helpful and attentive. Would definitely recommend.

If you are looking for classical fine dining then this isn't it. But what you do get is a fun modern atmosphere, great food - bbq style ribs, corn on the cob, pulled beef burgers and amazing hot dogs. All well cooked. Definitely worth a visit.

Bons hamburgers et hot dogs. Service attentionné

Went to this establishment while in Cambridge. It was a nice atmosphere, and the service was great. Even though most of the food was great, some items weren't to my liking. Probably down to personal taste. Hence 4 stars for the food. Drinks were excellent. Overall it was a nice experience. Would revisit it ever in that neck of the woods.

I visited the restaurant with my family of 8 on a Saturday, and even though we hadn't booked, we were seated quickly. The staff was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and helpful throughout our meal. The food was not only delicious but also very tasty. It was a great dining experience for our family!

Amazing service, food was outstanding. Had the sweet potato fries with my burger and they were the best I’ve ever had. 100% coming here again

Southern fried chicken wings with honey mustard was super crispy, tender and delicious! Beef short ribs was cooked to extreme tenderness and flavoured well, it was the best BBQ item on the table for the evening (among 7-8 other BBQ dishes)

Staff were really lovely and friendly, taking into account our accomodations and requests and hosting a really great event! We've had team feedback that it was the best office event held in 6 years - would absoultely recommend giving them a visit! Special thanks to...

Great place, kind service and most importantly - very tasty food.

Food was fantastic, staff are very friendly and the light system at the tables makes for a very relaxed dining experience. Would definitely recommend

The staff is great, the bar looks cool, the food is okeyish, little small portions and the sauces are extremely salty. but ales and beers are great.

Meat was terrible. Dry. Both the pork and chicken. The sauce couldn’t hide how poor the meat was. Everything lacked flavour. One staff member was great, the other didn’t seem to give two hoots. When I paid she stuck the chip and pin machine at me, and it turned out I paid an “optional” 10% tip without being given an option. Once payment was made she turned around and did something else. Not even a thank you or goodbye. Lousy experience.

Service is great, but the quality of food is let down by having cold chicken wings and also looking pink too which I’m told is the smoking process, I wasn’t entirely convinced. Nice place to go for a drink but the food is average

This was a great venue for my daughters birthday meal. She loves ribs and burgers. I was just hoping for chicken that wasn't on the bone.

The staff here is on a whole different level, making the experience always pleasant.

This has to have the friendliest, cheeriest staff of any place in Cambridge. I took my son here for lunch one Saturday and it's a fun, happy place to eat Shoreditch style meat (pulled beef burgers, ribs etc). They have VERY good milkshakes and perfect hotdogs. The music was normcore and a bit irritating but you can't have everything.

How does this glorified microwave have more than one star or the audacity to call itself a restaurant is a mistery. Abysmal reheated everything, saying what they serve is low quality is an insult to the word quallity , pretty much a tourist trap made to shaft every idiot deciding to sit down and eat here.

Was kind of excited to try it but was dissapointed. Food was not fresh, came out in less then 5 mins which is always a bad sign,chicken was pretty cold and there is nothing smokey about their food! Also incredibly expensive, considering there are other places you can eat fresh food around that area for half the price. If you like good quality food, avoid this place

Fabulous welcome ! Happy staff great cocktails and awesome service. Eaten here a couple of times .. the standard just goes up!!

Was recommended to go here. Outstanding food, great service that has a quirky touch and not too busy even an hour before the gig at the Corn Exchange.

Amazing for a quick bite Food was ready under 10 minutes and staff was kind and welcoming

Great food, great Service, first time here with my son Alex, will be returning. Good job guys.

Lovely lunch, the ribs are lovely, good range of beers, service great, friendly staff, toilets clean, the jug of water on the table was a nice touch 😋

Very average food at smoke works today. Used to love their bbq range. They’ve downsized the menu, with less variety. The platters have increased in price whilst reducing what’s on offer. But overall the food was just average. The ribs were mostly fat, the chicken...

Great food, really friendly service. Only popped into the bar for a drink and ended up staying for food in the restaurant which arrived quickly and tasted great! Would highly recommend..

Smokeworks is a nice restaurant for friends to gather. The food is nice and the price is average. I would recommend the fries with beef on top, it is a very nice snack you can get when you are not that hungry. The service is very good. The waiter was kind to us and very polite and patient. However he seems to be busy even at afternoon, I don’t think only one waiter would work at night.

Ribs were amazing, staff were very friendly. The milkshakes are awesome 👌

Some of the best barbecue food you'll ever have. Definitely recommend the sharing platter and adding some more meat if you're with a large party.

Great food, drink and vibes. Smokeworks is one of the best places to visit in Cambridge! Thank you for feeding me amazing food Joao and Davide 👍

food quality does not match the price

Harry & Gracie provided outstanding service, ensuring a memorable dining experience. P.S the Prosecco on tap is #delish

A favourite restaurant when in Cambridge. Excellent food, friendly and efficient service, buzzy atmosphere. Lucas and the team did a great job making us feel welcome and looking after us. A lovely way to celebrate hubby's birthday, which was made very specia by them. Thank you! Highly recommend.

Me and my husband went to smokeworks, after high demand from friends, for the first time and to say I was beyond happy. Me and my partner shared the big meat up and it was more then enough food for a good price I also...

Overdone, tough meat (tried chicken, pulled pork and pork belly). Lack of flavour. Not even warm. A big, big let down! Excellent service, though.

Fast service, nice beers. A little pricey for my liking. Food was alright but not completely on point. For nearly 30 pounds each, I would like to see babyback ribs less bouncy, the st.louis ribs evenly coated etc. Coleslaw was on point. For this pricey...

Really tasty and smoked slow food. The chicken fell off the bone. Great craft beer selection also

The food looked and tasted delicious and the service was amazing. Great value for money too. The outside seating was lovely with plants on each table. Highly recommend a visit, you won’t be disappointed.

One of my favourite chilli hot dogs that I've eaten in a hot dog challenge. I had the super hot hot dog and wasn't disappointed. You win a t shirt aswell if you eat it all. Photo goes up on the hall of flame.

The best barbecue I’ve had in Europe. The short rib meat platter for 2 was incredible - the bones all came out clean. Perfect amount of food for a couple. Fast and friendly service. Also recommend the strawberry cheesecake and Nutella shakes to wash it...

Best chicken wings I've ever eaten. Great food, great staff. Couldn't recommend enough

Absolutely loved it! Best BBQ I've had in the UK, our waiter was friendly but discreet and really funny. Loved the wonky outside tables and chairs

The food overall was good. The ribs were tasty and the portion sizes were great. However the chicken wings were a bit dry and tasteless and the toilets were quite smelly. The staff were very friendly though and the service was super quick.

Looking for something different in Cambridge, then this is it. The seriously delicious barbecue (BBQ) place in Cambridge. We had the sloppy nachos, smoked wings with Carolina BBQ sauce and fries. Everything was cooked well and delicious. I love this place because you turn a dial that lights and indicates that service is requested. It's a must in Cambridge. Staff is friendly, dress is casual and prices are fair.

Really hard BBQ ribs, they didn’t feel fresh at all. Milkshakes where pretty good. Very overpriced for the low food quality.