The Smoke Shop BBQ

The Smoke Shop BBQ at 1 Broadway in Cambridge's Kendall Square is chef Andy Husbands' celebrated barbecue restaurant, bringing authentic pit-smoked meats to the heart of Cambridge's innovation district. Husbands, who competed on Hell's Kitchen and has decades of experience in Boston-area kitchens, opened The Smoke Shop in 2016 with a program that takes Southern American barbecue seriously: meats are smoked for 18 hours or more over hardwood, rubs are made in-house, and the sides — mac and cheese, collard greens, baked beans — are made with the same care as the proteins. The brisket is the anchor, sliced to order from whole packer briskets that have developed a proper bark from the extended smoke exposure. The St. Louis-style ribs, pork spare ribs trimmed to a rectangular rack, are sauced and finished over the smoker for a lacquered exterior with juicy, pull-clean meat. Mac and cheese is a substantive side prepared with a multi-cheese sauce and finished with breadcrumb topping; it is regularly cited as one of the best versions in Massachusetts. The Kendall Square location serves the tech-heavy lunchtime crowd that fills the restaurant on weekdays, creating a buzzing energy that distinguishes it from quieter evening service. The beer list emphasizes craft beers from New England producers selected to complement the smoky, fatty food. Reservations are accepted and recommended for dinner; lunch service accommodates walk-ins efficiently.