Award-Winning Chef & Pitmaster Andy Husbands Opens Third Location of
The Smoke Shop at Assembly Row in Somerville, MA
(BOSTON, MA) [July 2018] – Chef & Pitmaster Andy Husbands expands his barbecue empire with the opening of The Smoke Shop in Assembly Row, bringing his signature wood-fired cooking to the all-encompassing dining, shopping and entertainment destination in Somerville, Massachusetts, just north of downtown Boston. A passion project for Husbands, The Smoke Shop’s third location at Assembly Row opens on the heels of the brand winning Boston Magazine’s 2018 “Best Barbecue Restaurant,” showcasing his years of planning and research on the competitive barbecue circuit, and modern approach to slow-cooked, old school-style barbecue. Located at 325 Assembly Row in Somerville, MA, the 5,500 square-foot, 240-seat restaurant is open seven days a week starting at 11AM, serving lunch, dinner and everything in between.
Husbands tapped Boston-based design firm, Sousa Design (Alden & Harlow, Temazcal) to create a vibrant and contemporary interpretation of a BBQ restaurant that embraces the rich heritage of the cuisine, featuring reclaimed wood throughout the space from a Jim Beam Distillery in Kentucky, which enhances the rugged atmosphere. Similar to the restaurant’s flagship location in Cambridge’s Kendall Square, The Smoke Shop Assembly is inspired by southern tobacco barns, boasting 120 seats in the main dining room with two exterior patios on the North and South side of the building for al fresco dining. Upon entering the space, a cluster of large industrial pendants cover the drink rail breaking apart the 30-seat bar from the bar dining area with booths made out of reclaimed Austrian barn siding, while a large back lit three-dimensional American Flag hangs under the mezzanine over Husbands’ trophy room and open kitchen to honor his success in BBQ competitions over the years and around the country. Towards the 30-seat convertible private dining area, designers incorporated a string light canopy for an intimate dining atmosphere with a volumetric arrangement of scrap metal pigs made in Tennessee reminding guests that BBQ is first and foremost about pork.
Open for lunch and dinner daily, the menu from Chef Husbands features The Smoke Shop barbecue classics from a variety of styles, including Texas Hot Links & Pimento Cheese, The Best Bar Wings with agave and pit spices, a wide selection of BBQ platters and Baskets such as St. Louis Ribs, Pulled Pork, Slow-Smoked Brisket, Cornmeal Battered Catfish and more, along with savory sides like Bacon Collards with blackstrap molasses, The Cornbread glazed with honey sea salt butter, Texas Toast, and Pimento Mac & Cheese. In addition to coveted favorites, Husbands serves a selection of dishes exclusive to the Assembly location, including BBQ Spiced Rotisserie Chicken, Pork Belly Burnt Ends and Pickled Peaches, along with Barbecue Spiced Peanuts available for snacking at the bar and individual cups of Mississippi Mud Pies for dessert. All menu items are available for easy on-the-go takeout and orders can be placed by calling the restaurant. The menu will also be coming soon to Caviar for home delivery.
The Smoke Shop boasts New England’s largest American whiskey collection featuring more than 200 American Whiskeys as well as Scotch and Japanese varieties. The bar program at the Assembly Row location will serve seasonal cocktails, including a Frozen Alabama Slammer with Southern Comfort and a Frosé Sangria, and will have a strong focus on spirits and craft beer. Guests can also choose from a wide variety of hyper local New England drafts, including Winter Hill Brewing, Bone Up Brewing Co., and their collaboration with Cambridge Brewing Company, “Smoke on the Charles,” a lager with malts smoked by The Smoke Shop.
The Smoke Shop Assembly Row is open located at 325 Assembly Row in Somerville, MA and open seven days a week beginning at 11AM. For more information, or to make a reservation, please visit www.thesmokeshopbbq.com or call (617) MAD-RIBS, (623-7427).
About The Smoke Shop:
The Smoke Shop, with locations in Cambridge’s Kendall Square, Boston’s Seaport, and Somerville’s Assembly Row, is a culmination of over two decades of practice, planning, and research by World Barbeque Champion Chef Andy Husbands. The menu showcases slow-cooked, competition-style barbeque including platters of meats with savory sides such as sweet and spicy collard greens. A 100+ American Whiskey selection features elevated takes on Southern cocktails. Live entertainment, full pig roasts combined with family style hospitality will transcend you to your favorite memories of barbeques. The Smoke Shop is open daily from 11:00AM- 1:00PM, serving lunch and dinner until 11:00PM. For more information, please visit thesmokeshopbbq.com.