Anyone who has something bad to say about this place, will never be fully satisfied with any place they go to. I have been going to Smokin Al's for years and it is the one place I can say I am head over heels for through all of New York. I'm from Queens, live in Bay Shore, have lived in Brooklyn and spent a whole lot of time in Downtown Manhattan. Though there are a great deal of places I do enjoy going to, this one is definitely my favorite.
The service is not bad at all. I've never experienced any rude-tude from any of the staff. The most I've ever seen is someone forgetting to bring something right away due to the crazy crowd that flows in.
Not only is the music really great to listen to, (jazz/blues-type music) but it helps set the mood. The interior gives off a very relaxed atmosphere. Now that I've mentioned that, let me explain about the food. The food tastes amazing and the portions are huge. The amount I spend on a meal (drinks not included) is about $20. You may think that can be pricey, but not for a nice sit-down place like this. (I always end up bringing half home-this becomes another meal).
Recently, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy played the Boulton Center and my boyfriend and I stopped there first...The two went perfectly together and made a wonderful time!
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