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BBQ at its finest. Rubbed meats with homemade Arkansauces on pork, beef, birds, and all the fixin's.
Second location called Rick's Rollin' Smoke Barbeque & Tavern, in Pawn Plaza: 725 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Stes. 110 & 210. Restaurant hours: Sun-Thur: 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri-Sat: 10 a.m.-10 p.m., 702/462-9880; Bar 10 a.m.-2 a.m., 702/462-9890;
Third location opened at 4115 S. Grand Canyon Dr., Ste. #100, open Mon-Sun, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (or until they sell out), 702/816-3634.
This restaurant was reviewed in the July 2013 LVA; some of the information contained in this review may no longer be accurate. It’s not Texas, it’s not Kansas City, and it’s not Memphis. Nope, this is Arkansas barbecue. What’s the difference? Actually, we don’t know. And we don’t think the two brothers behind Rollin Smoke do either, but they perfected their method in Razorback country, brought it to Las Vegas, and are aiming to establish a new category for ’cue. Quality meats cooked in big outdoor smokers, tangy sauce, and creative combos at good prices have made this place a hopping off-the-beaten path lunchtime destination. One of those creative efforts comes between two buns and is called the Outlaw Burger. This half-pound merging of ground chuck and chopped brisket comes with cheese, lettuce, tomato, fried onion strings, and is topped with two tomato peppers on a stick. Fantastic (and just $8.99). There’s pork ribs, beef ribs, spare ribs, brisket, chicken, meatloaf, hot links, catfish, shrimp, and BBQ sandwiches of all varieties. A two-meat platter with one side is $10.99 and a three-meat platter is $13.99. Most of the other combos come in at $13.99-$17.99. Good sides are $2.50 apiece and include jalapeño coleslaw, bacon potato salad, kickin’ beans, loaded mash, yams, greens, okra, and mac & cheese, among others. Can’t decide? There’s an all-you-can-eat option for $24.99, good for “anything on the menu, any day, any time” (including cobbler desserts). Actually, you can’t get it any time, as Smoke’s hours are 10 am to 8 pm Mon.-Thurs. and till 1:30 am on Fridays and Saturdays (closed Sundays). Your biggest challenge may be finding the place at its obscure Highland Dr. location (near Spring Mtn. Rd. west of the Strip). Not to worry—it’s about a block north of the Spearmint Rhino (and everyone knows how to find the Rhino). Go to rollinsmokebarbeque.com to download a 10%-off coupon.
