Smoque rises to takeaway market

Canberra’s takeaways-at-home scene just got a little more exotic with the decision by Grant Kells at Smoque to offer home delivery.

Smoque, near Bailey’s Corner in the city, specialists in Texan-style smoked meats and salads, keeping things casual and simple – plates of pulled pork, brisket or ribs, and burgers dressed with barbecue sauce, coleslaw, smoked vegetables and the like.

If there’s a bunch of you, or you’re not sure what to order, Kells suggests the ‘‘ultimate platter’’ ($99), which includes smoked angus beef rib, pork ribs, half a chicken, chicken wings, pulled pork, brisket, and sides of salads, corn and chips. This, he says, will feed as many as six people. Delivery is $10 and so far takes in the city and inner north. They’ve only been doing delivery for a fortnight, and it’s only Monday to Thursday, but Kells says it’s surprisingly popular – with 15 orders on the first Monday night. ‘‘In America, most of the barbecue places are delivery,’’ he says. ‘‘But in Canberra it’s hard to find a place that delivers – apart from pizza or Chinese or Indian.’’

Smoque is also doing ‘‘military Monday’’ where military personnel get a $15 beer and burger, and ‘‘student Tuesday’’ with the same offer. So far, no public servant Saturday.
Never one to stand still, Kells is negotiating on a couple of sites to open another Smoque, possibly as early as January.