Thank you to Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale for hosting us for a complimentary meal.

All thoughts shared are my own.

When you hear 'North Carolina,' there are probably lots of things that come to mind. I've lived in beautiful NC for nearly 20 years, and have grown rather fond of it. Majestic mountains, beautiful beaches- both within just a few hours of the Piedmont... the best of both worlds at your fingertips. There are tons of fun opportunities for day trips, lots of little 'big' cities to explore, and you really can't beat the southern hospitality. Front porch sittin' is a thing, and no one passes up a chance to sink their teeth into some good barbeque!

Everyone I know who lives in the south has their own opinion as to what constitutes as good BBQ. When I was growing up in NJ, a BBQ translated into what we in the south call a cookout.  BBQ is pulled pork, smoked meats, and all the fixins.

I don't discriminate when it comes to BBQ. It isn't something I cared much for when I was younger, but one can't help but embrace and eventually love all things BBQ after living in NC for 20 years. Pulled pork, ribs & brisket- I love it all, and I recently had a mouth-watering & tummy-pleasing experience at my favorite new restaurant, Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale.

Midwood Smokehouse has a fantastic location in Birkdale Village, which is in Huntersville, NC. This is an up and coming, highly sought after area to live and play in- one that our family enjoys visiting for the activities, the shopping, and of course- the good eats. The location is absolutely family-friendly and serves some of the best BBQ, sides & desserts I have ever tasted.

Inviting and casual atmosphere, friendly faces, and happy customers!

Hubby and I were delighted to be invited to Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale for dinner and took it as an opportunity to enjoy a night out, sans kiddos, though we both agreed that our kids would love Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale, and we can't wait to take them back with us.

When we walked into the restaurant, we could tell that the vibe was happy and excited. It was pretty busy on a Friday night, and we were glad that we had a reservation. The restaurant is fairly large, and has a ton of seating on the floor, at the bar, and out on the patio. We were greeted by a friendly hostess, and were taken right on over to our booth, where we were able to scope out the restaurant digs, the cool artwork, and decor, and catch a glimpse of the in-house smoker!

Our server, Ashley, was phenomenal. She was incredibly friendly, so much fun to talk to, knew the menu and bar offerings, and had fantastic recommendations for us. We started our night off with a crisp, cold beer. It was most welcome after a long, hot day! Midwood Smokehouse features craft beers from local breweries, which we were so happy to see. They also have favorites, cocktails, etc. You won't leave the restaurant thirsty!

Pimento Cheese Smothered Fries topped with Brisket + Cold Craft Beer is the perfect way to start your night off on the right hoof.

After we selected our beer, it was time to choose an appetizer, and everything on the menu looked incredible. As soon as Sacha and I saw that there were Pimento Cheese Smothered Fries on the menu, we knew we had to try them. I love pimento cheese, and this gooey, cheesy goodness is made in-house, which just made me want to try it all the more! Ashley, our server, gave us a tip & recommended that we try the fries topped with brisket, and told us we wouldn't be sorry if we did.

Ashley sure didn't steer us wrong! Oh, my goodness! Sacha and I both agreed that Midwood Smokehouse's Pimento Cheese Fries are probably the best app we've ever had. The fries were crispy, and the pimento cheese was just absolutely covering the fries, along with green onions. They would have been amazing on their own, but the added beef brisket topping and BBQ sauce drizzle just sent this delicious appetizer over the edge. We couldn't stop eating it!

This appetizer is a must-try!

Prime Rib Lovers, this is for You!

 A ribs platter to tickle your fancy!

I would have tried anything and everything off of the menu at Midwood Smokehouse, but for some reason, the ribs were really calling my name the night we visited for dinner. I love some good ribs, and I was excited to try Midwood's Saint Louis Style Pork Ribs. Another great tip from Ashley was to order the ribs with just the dry rub, sans sauce, which is what I did.

Incredible ribs!

Oh, my word- the ribs were out of this world delicious! Ashley was right- they didn't need the sauce. The dry rub was an incredible blend of spices with a hint of heat. They were outstanding! The meat was moist, smoky, and pulled easily off the bone without falling apart all over me. I'm a sauce kind of gal so to order the ribs without sauce was not the norm for me, but I'm so glad that I did! I did try the ribs drizzle with all four of Midwood's delicious BBQ sauces, which were brought to our table. They were all amazing- but I loved the ribs best with just the dry rub.

Also on my plate were hushpuppies, pickled onions, and creamed corn! My tummy was so happy!

Each of our entrees was served on large platters, and the food portions were pretty large... so large, in fact, we could have shared an entree. Needless to say, we went home with leftovers for another meal. Now that's what I call a bang for your buck!

Midwood Serves Up a Whole New Twist on a Southern Favorite

 Pecan Cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream is a sweet ending to your meal at Midwood Smokehouse.

Pecan pie is one of those classic southern desserts that I have come to love. In fact, I made my own pecan pie for the first time this past Thanksgiving. It couldn't hold a candle, however, to the amazing pecan cobbler that's on the dessert menu at Midwood Smokehouse. This isn't your average cobbler- it's a delicious, seriously sweet cobbler layered with tons of chopped pecans and flaky pie crust. The large scoop of vanilla ice cream melting down over the cobbler just made it even more heavenly! We split this delicious treat and can't wait to go back and have it again!

Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale is the place for a family night out or date night!

We had a great time at Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale on our date. We can't wait to take the kids!

We were thoroughly impressed with our meal, the staff, service, and our entire experience at Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale. Each and every server, hostess, and staff member had a big smile on their face and were so happy to be assisting diners and patrons. The managers were amazing, and I loved that they were walking around, checking on tables and interacting with their staff in a positive and encouraging way.

The food was out of this world delicious. Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale wildly exceeded our expectations. They have a little something for everyone on their menu, and I already have my list of menu items that I want to try on our next visit! Did someone say Hot Mess Burger & Banana Pudding?

Plan your visit!

If your mouth is watering and you're itching to give Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale a try, here's what I recommend:

Call ahead- It's perfectly fine to just walk in for lunch or dinner, but if you have a large party or squirmy kids, you just might want to call ahead.

Try a beer- Look for the big board hanging up near the bar, which features craft beer selections from local breweries.

Get the fries- There are lots of delicious appetizers at Midwood Smokehouse, and you should definitely try them all. I highly recommend starting off with the Pimento Cheese Fries & go ahead and add the pork or beef brisket. You know where to find me when you're ready to thank me later.

Get plates to share- Everything on the menu is fantastic, and you'll probably have a tough time deciding what you want. Go with several adults and choose plates and platters that everyone can try bites of!

Don't skip dessert- Save some room for dessert & try the pecan cobbler with ice cream! It's sweet, gooey, rich & so delicious!

Take a walk to see the smoker- All of Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale's delicious meats are literally smoked in-house. Do yourself a favor and walk to the back of the restaurant, where you'll not only see the busy kitchen but also the smoker, right in the restaurant. It's a real treat!

You can check out the Midwood Smokehouse Menu before your visit.

Want it? Get it!

You can treat yourself to some of the finest BBQ around by heading down to Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale. Don't miss their awesome Patio Party this Saturday, July 7th from 2-5 PM. For just $5.00 per ticket, you'll get to sample the Midwood Smokehouse menu, enjoy tasty treats, a delicious beer, and a Midwood cup! Plus, there will be lots of fun for the whole family- kids are welcome, too!

Be sure to connect with Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale on Facebook, Twitter & IG.

Want it? Win it!

One lucky MBP reader will win a $50.00 Gift Card to Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale.

Just use the handy RC entry form below to enter for your chance to win!

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Special thanks to our amazing friends and the team at Midwood Smokehouse Birkdale for making our first experience with them so unforgettable! Look for them in our 2018 Summer Fun Guide.

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